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Rear Vision How History Shaped TodayAuthor: ABC listen
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Flags, “flag-shaggers” and the co-opting of historic symbols
Friday, 3 April, 2026
Wrapping yourself in the national flag has become a common practice for far-right activists right across the Western world, particularly anti-immigration demonstrators. In the UK the co-opting of the Union Jack and the flag of St George has become so common it’s now described in derogatory terms as “flag-shagging”. In this episode, we explore the historic power of national flags as symbols of division, not just national unity. Guests:Dr Anne Platoff – Flag expert and former librarian, University of California, Santa Barbara Laura Scofield – Design Director, The AtlanticDr Dominic Bryan – Professor of social anthropology, Queens’s University Belfast
