16

The color red is traditionally associated with communism. You can find it in the flags of the Soviet Union and China, and the Red Star is a a common symbol in communist countries. Why is the color red associated with communism? What does it symbolize?

Improve this question
0

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
10

(There's a pretty complete description of the association between the red flag and revolution on Wikipedia's page on the color red)

It can be associated with revolution (at least as far back as the French revolution, before that in Europe it was sometimes associated with monarchy) and communists see themselves as revolutionaries.

Red is associated with courage, sacrifice, blood and war in general.

In the West, a red flag in battle was used to signal the fight would be to the death and there would be no surrender (and/or no prisoners taken). Communists may have adopted it to send that message to the nobles/upper-classes. Or maybe it was just for the general association with courage/sacrifice/war.

In Asia, and China in particular, red is associated with loyalty, honor, success, and happiness. As such it's a nice flag for the Communist Party to use.

I don't think there's a definitive logical answer to the question. The answer is probably some combination of the above. Also communists world-wide would have copied each others color, to symbolize unity/shared ideology and the historical association with revolution.

Improve this answer
13

In Europe and especially in France the events of the Paris Commune and the use of the red flag there set for good the red flag as the symbol of the socialist revolution and not "just" the revolution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Commune

Improve this answer
3

We were told in school it signified fire or the blood shed by the comrades, but the true story is that red color came from the Second Paris Commune (after which Communism was named), then in turn from the Great French Revolution (which started from the first Paris Commune), and ultimately from the Commune of Rome of 1144. The Commune of Rome of 1144 choose red color because it was the color of Republican Rome, the restoration of which the proponents advocated against the Papacy.

Improve this answer
1
  • 5
    "Communism" was in use well before the Paris Commune of 1870. It figures (for example) in the title of a somewhat famous manifesto.
    – fdb
    Commented Sep 4, 2017 at 16:06
-2

Richard Wurmbrant, in his books, stated that red ties worn by those who gave allegiance to the communist/socialist governments were the way to recognize the people who could have jobs, get necessities, etc. Those without red ties were outcasts and subject to arrests and no place to legally live, at least not for very long.

Improve this answer
2
  • 4
    This would be improved by clarifying cause and effect, i.e. if they wore red ties because the color was already associated with communism or whether the wearing of the red ties became the reason that the color is associated with communism. Also who allocated these red ties? Could you buy your own red tie to "fit in"?
    – Steve Bird
    Commented Sep 4, 2017 at 11:47
  • 1
    This also needs more context: where and when exactly were people arrested for not wearing red ties ?
    – Evargalo
    Commented Mar 15, 2019 at 14:29

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.