Socialist-style emblems

File:National Emblem of the People's Republic of China (2).svg 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, the cogwheel or other industrial tools represent the industrial proletariat.]]

Socialist-style emblems usually follow a unique style consisting of communist symbolism. Although commonly referred to as coats of arms, most are not actually traditional heraldic achievements.{{cite book |last= von Volborth|first= Carl-Alexander|author-link1= Carl-Alexander von Volborth|date= 1981|title= Heraldry – Customs, Rules and Styles|location= Ware, Hertfordshire|publisher= Omega Books Ltd.|page= 11|isbn= 0-907853-47-1}} Many communist governments purposely diverged from heraldic tradition in order to distance themselves from the monarchies that they usually replaced, with coats of arms being seen as symbols of the monarchs.

Soviet Russia was the first state to use a socialist-style emblem, beginning at its creation in 1917. The style became more widespread after World War II, when many other communist states were established. Even a few non-socialist (or communist) states have adopted the style, for various reasons—usually because communists had helped them to gain independence or establish their republican governments. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the other communist states in Eastern Europe between 1989 and 1992, this style of state emblems was often abandoned in favour of the old heraldic practices, with many (but not all) of the new governments reinstating traditional heraldry that was previously cast aside.

Origin and history

File:State Emblem of the Soviet Union.svg

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 they saw as associated with the societal system 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 states, which wished to also focus attention on the nation's workers and diverge from feudalism and all of its associations.{{cite book |last= von Volborth|first= Carl-Alexander|author-link1= Carl-Alexander von Volborth| date= 1972 | title= Alverdens heraldik i farver | language=da | others=Editor and translator from English to Danish: Sven Tito Achen | location= Copenhagen | publisher=Politikens Forlag |page= 158|isbn= 87-567-1685-0}}

In some communist countries, the socialist style of emblems was never adopted fully. The coat of arms of Poland was only changed slightly under the communist era, retaining the traditional heraldic form. In Hungary, the "Rákosi badge", an emblem in the socialist style, was adopted following the Second World War, but after the 1956 uprising, a new emblem ("Kádár badge") was created combining communist symbolism with a heraldic shield in the colours of the Hungarian flag. Czechoslovakia became a Communist country in 1948 but retained its original coat of arms until 1960-1961, when they were replaced with a non-traditional shield depicting the heraldic Bohemian lion without a crown and with a red star above head. Some of the states of Yugoslavia also used heraldic shields coupled with socialist imagery in their emblems, as did two republics within the USSR: the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Characteristics

Socialist style of state emblems typically makes use of the following symbols:

Hammer and sickle, representing respectively the workers and peasantry. In some countries, the sickle may be replaced by another traditional tool for local agriculture, most often a hoe. More rarely, a hammer may be used on its own, to represent the working classes as a whole.
The five-pointed Red star, representing the five fingers of the worker's hand and the five continents on the earth. Often displayed with a yellow border, or a yellow five-pointed star, often on a red background
Wreaths of grain or other domesticated plants encircling the emblem, representing agriculture and plenty
Interwoven ribbons in national or red colors, sometimes used for a motto
The rising sun, representing revolution
Modern industrial accessories such as gears and electricity pylons
Books, representing the intelligentsia, and more generally, science and culture
Local landscapes
Other tools or accessories, sometimes weapons. However, the latter is more characteristic of national liberation movement symbolism than of traditional Socialist heraldic style.

Emblems following this style generally have a circular or oval shape.

Present

With the dissolution of the Eastern Bloc in Europe, most of these countries' socialist emblems have been replaced with old pre-communist symbols or by wholly new coats of arms.

The socialist style's influence is still seen in the emblems of several countries, such as the People's Republic of China. North Korea has a national emblem in pure socialist style, as do Vietnam and Laos.

During the infancy years of the Russian Federation (the successor to the Soviet Union), the country used the modified version of the emblem of the RSFSR with the inscription was changed from RSFSR ({{Lang|ru|РСФСР}}) to the Russian Federation ({{Lang|ru|Российская Федерация}}/{{Lang|ru-latn|Rossiyskaya Federaciya}}) until the new coat of arms was adopted in 1993. The national emblem of Belarus was adopted in 1995 following a controversial referendum. It is reminiscent of that of the Byelorussian SSR and replaced the coat of arms of 1991–1995 which followed the traditional heraldic style. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan also retained components of their respective former Soviet republics' emblems.

The national emblem of North Macedonia is reminiscent of that of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia (once a constituent socialist republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), having removed the red star from it in 2009.

In Africa, the emblems of the former Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique, as well as Guinea-Bissau, follow the socialist-style emblems formula.

The Republic of Serbia used the coat of arms of the Socialist Republic of SerbiaLaw on the use of the coat of arms of the Socialist Republic of Serbia ({{langx|sr|Zakon o upotrebi grba Socijalisticke Republike Srbije}} ("SG SRS", br. 6/1985.) until the recommended symbols by the National Assembly on 17 August 2004. The recommended usage was made into law on 11 May 2009 thus officially replacing the socialist emblem.{{cite web |title=Zakon o izgledu i upotrebi grba, zastave i himne Republike Srbije |trans-title=Law on the Appearance and Use of the Coat of arms, the Flag and the Anthem of the Republic of Serbia |work=Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia – No. 36/2009 |publisher=Narodna skupština Republike Srbije – JP "Službeni glasnik" |publication-date=11 May 2009 |date=19 May 2009 |url=http://www.parlament.sr.gov.yu/content/lat/akta/akta_detalji.asp?Id=549&t=Z |access-date=15 December 2009 |language=sr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802105145/http://www.parlament.sr.gov.yu/content/lat/akta/akta_detalji.asp?Id=549&t=Z |archive-date=2 August 2009 }}

The unrecognised state of Transnistria has a state emblem based on a Soviet-era design, despite not being a socialist state. The pattern also applies to the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic.

Galleries

Below are galleries of historical and current national emblems. The years given are for the emblems, not for the countries.

This is not an exhaustive gallery, since they are here to illustrate the article, not to show every example. Only long-lasting emblems of independent countries are shown.

=Current emblems=

National Emblem of the People's Republic of China (2).svg|{{Center|Emblem of the People's Republic of China (1950–present)}}

Emblem of Vietnam.svg|{{Center|Emblem of Vietnam (1955–present)}}

Emblem of Laos.svg|{{Center|Emblem of Laos (1992–present)}}

Emblem of North Korea.svg|{{Center|Emblem of North Korea (1993–present)}}

Emblem of Angola.svg|{{center|Emblem of Angola (1990–present)}}

Coat of arms of Belarus (2020–present).svg|{{center|National emblem of Belarus (2020–present)}}

Emblem of Guinea-Bissau.svg|{{center|Emblem of Guinea-Bissau (1994–present)}}

Emblem of Mozambique.svg|{{center|Emblem of Mozambique (1982–present)}}

Emblem of Nepal.svg|{{Center|Emblem of Nepal (2008–present)}}

Coat of arms of North Macedonia.svg|{{center|National emblem of North Macedonia (2009–present)}}

Emblem of Tajikistan.svg|{{center|Emblem of Tajikistan (1993–present)}}

Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg|{{center|Emblem of Uzbekistan (1992–present)}}

Arms_of_the_Islamic_Emirate_of_Afghanistan.svg|{{Center|Emblem of Afghanistan (2021–present)}}

Emblem of Djibouti.svg|{{Center|Emblem of Djibouti (1977–present)}}

Emblem of Turkmenistan.svg|{{Center|Emblem of Turkmenistan (2003–present)}}

Emblem of Kazakhstan latin.svg|{{Center|Emblem of Kazakhstan (2014–present)}}

Emblem of Kyrgyzstan.svg|{{Center|Emblem of Kyrgyzstan (2016–present)}}

File:Seal of Madagascar.svg|{{Center|Emblem of Madagascar (2011–present)}}

==Non-UN member states or subnational divisions with socialist-styled emblems==

Coat of arms of Transnistria.svg|{{center|Emblem of Transnistria (1991–present)}}

Coat of arms of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.svg|{{Center|Coat of arms of Western Sahara (1991–present)}}

Coat of arms of Adygea.svg|{{center|Emblem of Adygea}}

Coat of Arms of Altai Krai.svg|{{center|Emblem of Altai Krai}}

Coat of Arms of Bryansk Oblast.svg|{{center|Emblem of Bryansk Oblast}}

Coat of arms of Chechnya.svg|{{center|Emblem of Chechnya}}

Coat of arms of Gagauzia.svg|{{center|Emblem of Gagauzia (1994–present)}}

Coat of arms of Kemerovo Oblast.svg|{{center|Emblem of Kemerovo Oblast}}

COA LPR oct 2014.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Luhansk People's Republic (2014–present)}}

Coat of arms of Mordovia.svg|{{center|Emblem of Mordovia}}

Coat of Arms of Volgograd oblast.svg|{{center|Emblem of Volgograd Oblast}}

Emblem of Wa State.svg|{{center|Emblem of Wa State (1989–present)}}

Герб Заиграевского района.jpg|{{center|Emblem of Zaigrayevsky District}}

Герб МР "Бабаюртовкий район".jpg|{{center|Emblem of Babayurtovsky District}}

Coat of Arms of Kaitagsky rayon (Dagestan).png|{{center|Emblem of Kaytagsky District}}

Coat of Arms of Ivanovskii rayon (Amur oblast).png|{{center|Emblem of Ivanovsky (Amur)}}

Coat of Arms of Unecha (Bryansk oblast) (1986).png|{{center|Emblem of Unecha}}

Coat of Arms of Unechsky Raion.png|{{center|Emblem of Unechsky District}}

Coat of Arms of Dzerzhinsk.svg|{{center|Emblem of Dzerzhinsk}}

Coat of Arms of Mihailovskii rayon (Amur oblast).png|{{center|Emblem of Mikhaylovsky District}}

Coat of arms of Volgograd city.svg|{{center|Emblem of Volgograd (city)}}

Coat of Arms of Povorino (Voronezh oblast).png|{{center|Emblem of Povorino}}

=Historical emblems=

File:Emblem of Afghanistan (1928-1929).svg|{{center|Emblem (1928–1929) of the Kingdom of Afghanistan)}}

Emblem of Afghanistan (1978-1980).svg|{{center|Emblem (1978–1980) of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1987)}}

File:Emblem of Afghanistan (1980-1987).svg|{{center|Emblem (1980–1987) of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (1978–1987)}}

Coat of arms of the People's Republic of Albania.svg|{{center|Emblem of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania (1946–1991)}}

Coat of arms of Azerbaijan People's Government.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Azerbaijan People's Government (1946)}}

Emblem of the People's Republic of Benin.svg|{{center|Emblem of the People's Republic of Benin (1975–1990)}}

Coat of arms of Burkina Faso 1984-1991.svg|{{center|Emblem of Burkina Faso (1984–1987)}}

Coat of arms of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg|{{center|Emblem of the People's Republic of Bulgaria (1971–1990)}}

Coat of arms of Cape Verde (1975–1992).svg|{{center|National emblem of Cape Verde (1975–1992)}}

National Emblem of the Chinese Soviet Republic.svg| {{center|Emblem of the Chinese Soviet Republic (1931–1937)}}

Coat of Arms of the People's Republic of Congo.svg|{{center|Emblem of the People's Republic of the Congo (1970–1992)}}

Emblem of the Derg.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Ethiopian Derg (1975–1987)}}

Emblem of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.svg|{{center|Emblem of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1987–1991)}}

Coat of arms of the Far Eastern Republic.svg|{{center|Coat of arms of the Far Eastern Republic (1920–1922)}}

State arms of the German Democratic Republic.svg|{{center|Emblem of the German Democratic Republic (1955–1990)}}

Iraq state emblem CoA 1959-1965 Qassem.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Iraqi Republic (1959–1965)[http://www.pjsymes.com.au/articles/cbi-first.htm P.J. Symes, "The First Banknotes of the Central Bank of Iraq"]}}

Coat of arms of Hungary (1949-1956).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Hungarian People's Republic (1949–1956)}}

Coat of arms of Hungary (1957-1990).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Hungarian People's Republic (1957–1989) and the Hungarian Republic (1989–1990).{{efn|Atypically, the emblem includes a nod to traditional heraldry – a central shield.}}}}

Emblem of Democratic Kampuchea 1975–1979.svg|{{center|Emblem of Democratic Kampuchea (1975–1979)}}

Emblem of the People's Republic of Kampuchea (1981-1989).svg|{{center|Emblem of the People's Republic of Kampuchea (1979–1989)}}

Emblem of Laos 1975-1991.svg|{{center|Emblem of Laos (1975–1991)}}

Emblem of the Democratic Republic of Madagascar.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Democratic Republic of Madagascar (1975–1992)}}

Coat of arms of the Republic of Mahabad.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Republic of Mahabad (1946)}}

State emblem of the People's republic of Mongolia (1960–1992).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Mongolian People's Republic (1960–1992)}}

Coat of arms of the Russian Federation (1992-1993).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Russian Federation (1992–1993)}}

Coat of arms of the Socialist Republic of Romania.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Socialist Republic of Romania (1965–1989)}}

Coat of arms of the Soviet Union (1956–1991).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1956–1991)}}

Emblem of the Tuvan People's Republic (1943-1944).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Tuvan People's Republic (1943–1944)}}

GRB JUGOSLAVIJE.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1963–1993)}}

Emblem of Gagauzia.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Gagauz Republic (1989–1995)}}

==Republics of the Soviet Union==

File:Emblem of the Azerbaijan SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Azerbaijan SSR (1937–1993)}}

File:Emblem of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (1981–1991).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Byelorussian SSR (1981–1991)}}

File:Emblem of the Estonian SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Estonian SSR (1940–1990)}}

File:Emblem of the Georgian SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Georgian SSR (1921–1990)}}

File:Emblem of the Karelo-Finnish SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Karelo-Finnish SSR (1941–1956)}}

File:Emblem of Kazakh SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Kazakh SSR (1937–1992)}}

File:Emblem of the Kirghiz SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Kirghiz SSR (1948–1994)}}

File:Emblem of the Latvian SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Latvian SSR (1940–1990)}}

File:Emblem of the Lithuanian SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Lithuanian SSR (1940–1990)}}

File:Emblem of the Moldavian SSR (1981-1990).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Moldavian SSR (1941–1990)}}

File:Emblem of the Russian SFSR (1978–1991), Emblem of Russia (1991–1992).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Russian SFSR (1978–1992)}}

File:Emblem of the Tajik SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Tajik SSR (1937–1992)}}

File:Emblem of the Transcaucasian SFSR (1930-1936).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Transcaucasian SFSR (1930–1936)}}

File:Emblem of the Turkestan ASSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Turkestan ASSR (1919–1924)}}

File:Emblem of the Turkmen SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Turkmen SSR (1937–1992)}}

File:Emblem of the Ukrainian SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Ukrainian SSR (1949–1991)}}

File:Emblem of the Uzbek SSR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Uzbek SSR (1937–1992)}}

File:Emblem of the Armenian SSR.png|Emblem of the Armenian SSR (1936–1992)

==Republics of Yugoslavia==

Coat of Arms of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg|{{center|Emblem of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1946–1992)}}

Coat of Arms of the Socialist Republic of Croatia.svg|{{center|Emblem of Croatia (1947–1990)}}

Emblem of Macedonia (1946–2009).svg|{{center|Emblem of Macedonia (1946–1991)}}

Coat of arms of Montenegro (1945–1993).svg|{{center|Emblem of Montenegro (1945–1993)}}

Coat of arms of Serbia (1947–2004).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Socialist Republic of Serbia (1947–1992) and the Republic of Serbia (1992–2004)}}

Coat of Arms of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia.svg|{{center|Emblem of Slovenia (1945–1991)}}

=Miscellaneous=

==State symbols==

File:Charter of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) logo.svg|{{center|Emblem of the CPPCC}}

File:Laos Ministry of AF.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry}}

File:Seal of the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.svg|{{center|Emblem of the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea}}

File:Emblem of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea.svg|{{center|Emblem of the President of the State Affairs of North Korea}}

File:Government Seal of Bangladesh.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Government Seal of Bangladesh}}

File:PLA's cap insignia (2007 Edition).svg|Insignia of the People's Liberation Army

File:Emblem VPA.svg|Emblem of the Vietnam People’s Army

File:Emblem of the Korean People's Army.svg|Emblem of the Korean People's Army

File:Emblem of Lao People's Army.svg|Emblem of the Lao People's Armed Forces

File:Vietnam People's Public Security Emblem.png|Emblem of the Vietnam People's Public Security and Ministry of Public Security

==Parties and organisations==

File:China Youth League logo.svg|{{center|Emblem of the CYCL}}

File:Emblem of LPRYU.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union}}

File:Emblem of KSYL.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League}}

File:GFTUK logo.png|{{center|Emblem of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea}}

File:Trade Union Congress- Ghana.jpg|Emblem of the Ghana Trades Union Congress

File:Logo UAWK.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea}}

File:FLN Logo.png|{{center|Emblem of the National Liberation Front}}

File:Emblem of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan.svg|{{center|Emblem of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan}}

File:Watan Party Remastered.png|{{center|Emblem of the Watan Party of Afghanistan}}

File:Bashkimi i Rinisë së Punës së Shqipërisë.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Labour Youth Union of Albania}}

File:Logo of the Fatherland Front (Bulgaria).svg|{{center|Emblem of the Fatherland Front}}

File:Emblem of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia}}

File:Logo of the Czechoslovak National Socialist Party.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Czech National Social Party}}

File:Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Party logo.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party}}

File:Logo of the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Party.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (ca 1975)}}

File:Emblem Of Tigray People's Liberation Front.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Tigray People's Liberation Front}}

File:Coat of arms of PCR.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Romanian Communist Party}}

File:Wheat & sickle, FP.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Ploughmen's Front}}

File:Emblem of Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party}}

File:Parti Africain de l'Indépendance (Senegambian) logo.svg|{{center|Emblem of the African Independence Party – Renewal}}

File:Partido Comunista de Chile.svg|{{center|Emblem of the Communist Party of Chile}}

File:Logo of the Communist Party of Indonesia.svg|Logo of the Communist Party of Indonesia

File:Logo - Suomen Kommunistinen Puolue.png|Logo of the Communist Party of Finland

File:Símbolo do Partido Socialista Português.svg|Logo of the Portuguese Socialist Party

File:Partito Socialista Italiano (1971-1978).svg|Logo of the Italian Socialist Party (1971–1978)

File:Colourised version of the logo used by the CPA.svg|Former logo of the Communist Party of Australia

File:Biểu trưng Mặt trận Tổ quốc Việt Nam.svg|Emblem of the Vietnam Fatherland Front

File:Logo of the Burma Socialist Programme Party.png|Symbol of the Burma Socialist Programme Party.

File:Emblem of Vietnam Communist Party.png|Alternative emblem of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

File:Emblem of the Yemeni Socialist Party (1978‐1990).svg|Emblem of the Yemeni Socialist Party (1978‐1990)

Notes

References

= Citations =

= Sources =

Slater, Stephen (2002). The complete book of Heraldry. London.

Bibliography

Arvidsson, Stefan (2017). Style and Mythology of Socialism: Socialist Idealism, 1871–1914. Routledge
Gorman, John (1985). Images of Labour: Selected Memorabilia from the National Museum of Labour History. London: Scorpion Publications.
Gorman, John (1986). Banner bright: An Illustrated History of Trade Union Banners. Buckhurst Hill, Essex: Scorpion Publications.

External links

[https://heartinaheartlessworld.blog/ Blog: Heart in a Heartless World]

Category:Coats of arms of communist states

Category:Marxism–Leninism

Category:Heraldry

Category:Symbols of communism

Category:Socialist symbols

Category:History of socialism

Category:1922 introductions