Socialist heraldry

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The state emblem of the People's Republic of China is typical of socialist and communist heraldry. The colour red and the star are symbols of communism; grains are often used to represent agriculture, farmers or the common people, while governmental buildings are typical themes for state emblems as they represent the government's authority.

Socialist heraldry, also called communist heraldry, consists of emblems in a style typically adopted by communist states. Although commonly called coats of arms, most such devices are not actually coats of arms in the traditional heraldic sense. Many communist governments purposely diverged from the traditional forms of European heraldry in order to distance themselves from the monarchies that they usually replaced, with actual coats of arms being seen as symbols of the monarchs.

The Soviet Union was the first state to use socialist heraldry, beginning at its creation in 1922. The style became more widespread after World War II, when many other communist states were established. Even a few non-socialist states have adopted the style, for various reasons – usually because communists had helped them to gain independence. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the other communist states in Eastern Europe in 1989–1991, this style of heraldry was often abandoned for the old heraldic practices, with many (but not all) of the new governments reinstating the traditional heraldry that was previously cast aside.

[edit] Origin and history

Soviet leaders sought to distinguish their insigne from the emblems used by the Russian Emperor and aristocracy. They replaced and omitted the traditional heraldic devices, substituting an emblem that did not conform to traditional European practices.

The Soviet Union, created after the 1917 revolution, required insignia to represent itself in line with other sovereign states, such as emblems, flags and seals, but the Soviet leaders did not wish to continue the old heraldic practices which were associated with the feudalism the revolution sought to replace. In response to the needs and wishes, the national emblem adopted would lack the traditional heraldic elements of a shield, helm, crest and mantling, and instead be presented more plainly. This style was followed then by other socialist and communist which wished to also focus attention on the nation's workers and diverge from feudalism and all of its associations.

[edit] Characteristics

Socialist heraldry typically makes use of the following symbols:

Hammer and sickle; compass
Red and gold (yellow) five-pointed stars
Ears or ribbons of grain or other domesticated plants,
Interwoven ribbons in national and/or red colors, sometimes imprinted with esteemed dates, slogans and the like
single or multiple gears
The rising sun
Landscapes
Modern industrial accessories such as electricity pylons
red background
National symbols or places of national importance
Earth

[edit] Development

[edit] USSR

The great seal of the Soviet Union was the first example of socialist heraldry. It was followed in several other communist countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia, but not in Cuba.

[edit] Romania

[edit] Hungary

[edit] Present

With the demise of the USSR and other Communist regimes in Europe, most of their socialist heraldry has been replaced with old pre-communist symbols or by wholly new coats of arms.

The socialist heraldry still goes strong in a number of countries, such as the People's Republic of China. Also the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has a national emblem in pure socialist style, as does Vietnam.

The national emblem of Belarus adopted in 1995 following a controversial referendum, is reminiscent of that of the Byelorussian SSR.

The national emblem of Macedonia is reminiscent of that of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia (once a constituent socialist republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia).

In Africa there are the emblems of Angola and Mozambique.

The Republic of Serbia used the coat of arms of the Socialist Republic of Serbia^[1] until the recommended symbols were made Law on May 11, 2009.^[2]

[edit] Galleries

Bellow are two galleries of historical and current national emblems. The years given are for the emblems, not for the countries, except for the component republics of the USSR.