Science offers a way to settle Australia’s flag debate
Australians have been debating whether to change their national flag for over a decade. Those in favor argue that the Union Jack is a relic of the British imperial era. On top of that, the flag fails to even acknowledge the historical presence of Australia’s indigenous Aboriginal population, proponents say. AusFlag, an organization lobbying for a ...
Australians have been debating whether to change their national flag for over a decade. Those in favor argue that the Union Jack is a relic of the British imperial era. On top of that, the flag fails to even acknowledge the historical presence of Australia's indigenous Aboriginal population, proponents say. AusFlag, an organization lobbying for a flag change, also highlights the unoriginal nature of Australia's flag, given that it's almost identical to New Zealand's. More recently, critics have argued that Australia's flag is now associated with racism against Australia's immigrant populations, with the organizers of one of Australia's biggest outdoor music festivals, the "Big Day Out" in Sydney, discouraging people from bearing the flag for that reason.
Australians have been debating whether to change their national flag for over a decade. Those in favor argue that the Union Jack is a relic of the British imperial era. On top of that, the flag fails to even acknowledge the historical presence of Australia’s indigenous Aboriginal population, proponents say. AusFlag, an organization lobbying for a flag change, also highlights the unoriginal nature of Australia’s flag, given that it’s almost identical to New Zealand’s. More recently, critics have argued that Australia’s flag is now associated with racism against Australia’s immigrant populations, with the organizers of one of Australia’s biggest outdoor music festivals, the “Big Day Out” in Sydney, discouraging people from bearing the flag for that reason.
Now, it seems, researchers at Pennsylvania’s Swarthmore College are offering a way to settle the debate. It turns out that the Southern Cross, which is featured prominently on the Australian flag (and on the flags of Brazil, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa), has an extra star. Perhaps now Australians will be able to agree that the flag really is out of date.
More from Foreign Policy
Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak
Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.
Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage
The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.
The West’s False Choice in Ukraine
The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.
The Masterminds
Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day, written by Alexandra Sharp. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.