By Tahseen Wsu Abdullah
The national identity of any country or nation consists of a number of basic characteristics that include language, flag, history, civilization, traditions, etc. Among the main characteristics, the flag is seen as an essential principle in shaping or forming national identity.
The flag of any country defines the essence and content of the political system of that country and is a direct definition of the history, geography, and environment of that country. In other words, the flag symbolizes the civilization and beliefs of the people of that country. In ancient and modern history, raising the flag is a sign of the strength and vitality of the country and society. During the victory in wars and the settlement of problems, the flag of the victorious state or people has been raised as an expression of pride and national identity, and various sections of society have stood in front of it as a sign of respect. In today’s rapid industrial era, due to the advancement of communication and transportation, the borders and sovereignty of countries have blurred to some extent and out of traditional meanings and frameworks, but the flag still has its basic role in international relations, in military ceremonies and promotion in artistic and sporting events This shows that the flag is still seen as the main pillar of the identity of nations towards each other.
One of the main symbols of the modern nation-state is the flag, which plays an important and continuous role in the production and preservation of national discourse and identity. Both politicians, some artists, intellectuals, and the mass media play a major role in producing and disseminating this discourse.
Over the past century, the flag has played a more important role in the reproduction of the nation than other national symbols.
The centralization of the flag as a national symbol in the 20th century has turned it into a political symbol, treated as sacred by the majority of society. This state of sanctification is best reflected in times of political, ideological and military conflict between nations. The flag is equated with the nation and the country to some extent, and the latter is seen as an extension of the other, where hurting the flag is depicted as hurting the nation itself.
Therefore, the flag is a symbol of the people and civilization of a country, so that when you look at the flag of any country, to a large extent can be seen religion, sect and culture of the people of that country.
At the same time, it shows what the people of the country are most proud of and how they express their identity to the outside world. Therefore, we can clearly say that the flag has the rule of national identity within a certain framework, so it is the duty of every individual in society to respect the flag and see it as a symbol of identity In this context, the flag can be the strongest expression to keep a state or nation against other states.