num_pages: 266
description: When you see your nations flag fluttering in the breeze what do you feel?For thousands of years flags have represented our hopes and dreams. We wave them. Burn them. March under their colours. And still in the 21st century we die for them. Flags fly at the UN on the Arab street from front porches in Texas. They represent the politics of high power as well as the politics of the mob.From the renewed sense of nationalism in China to troubled identities in Europe and the USA to the terrifying rise of Islamic State the world is a confusing place right now and we need to understand the symbols old and new that people are rallying round.In nine chapters (covering the USA UK Europe Middle East Asia Africa Latin America international flags and flags of terror) Tim Marshall draws on more than twenty-five years of global reporting experience to reveal the histories the power and the politics of the symbols that unite us  and divide us.Full of sharp analysis and a very entertaining read  Andrew NeilA fascinating tour of the worlds ensigns their histories and meanings  a sobering lesson in just how silly we human beings can be  Daily MailInsightful and entertaining ... a truly fascinating book that feels all the more considered and urgent in today's world of Brexit Trump China and ISIS -- Dan Lewis Wanderlust magazineMarshall points out that we often forget the aggressive symbolism of established flags ... [they] are a quick visual way of communicating loyalties power and ideas -- Robbie Millen The TimesAn engagingly written veritable page-turner. Whether the topic is ethnic identity Japanese imperialism Panamanian shipping law or the defeat of Nazism flags speak volumes about our human condition -- Lawrence Joffe Jewish ChronicleIn today's globalised and media savvy environment the role of state and non-state symbols has become more important and in many cases more dangerous and evocative. This witty book brings to our attention this power alongside the reality that we must not underestimate or misunderstand how the flags of our world came to be. A must read for anyone wishing to grasp the meanings behind today's international affairs. -- Human Security Centre
language: English
title: Worth Dying For: The Power and Politics of Flags
publisher: Elliott & Thompson