Explain why do some countries' flags have similar colors even though their cultures are different?

Common historical origins of national colors

Many countries have similar flags because they often share a common piece of history that goes back a long way. For example, many Arab nations use red, green, black, and white because they are inspired by the colors of the Arab Revolt, a significant period from the early 20th century. The same applies in Africa: the colors green, red, and yellow come from the flag of Ethiopia, the only African country that was never colonized. This trio of colors symbolizes the fight against colonization and African pride; several neighboring countries have adopted them to show their solidarity and common heritage. In Europe as well, blue, white, and red are very widespread, largely due to the influence of Revolutionary France, which inspired freedom movements throughout the continent. In short, if you sometimes feel that flags are copying each other, it is often because they collectively tell a similar part of their history.

Universal meaning and symbolism of colors

Some colors are very widespread because they have a simple and easily understandable meaning around the world. For example, red is often associated with courage, spilled blood, or revolution. White, on the other hand, generally represents peace, purity, or transparency. With green, people often think of hope, agriculture, or Islam, while blue often evokes freedom, oceans, or the sky. As for yellow or gold, they typically symbolize wealth, the sun, or prosperity. Even if countries have very distant cultures, they often use these colors because their message is understandable to everyone.

Political and colonial influences on flag choices

Some countries have chosen the colors of their flag in response to political events or as a legacy of former colonial dominations. Many African countries, for example, display similar colors (green, yellow, red, or black) as a reference to the colors of Pan-Africanism, a political movement advocating for the unity of Africa in the face of its colonial past. The red, white, and blue are also commonly found in countries once dominated by major European colonial empires such as France or the Netherlands, which partly explains why culturally different nations share nearly identical colors. Similarly, several flags in Latin America use blue, white, and red due to the historical influence of revolutionary and republican ideology linked to independence and the values stemming from the French Revolution. These common colors mainly reflect a shared historical episode or a political tradition bequeathed by other countries, rather than a true cultural link.

Specific examples of countries with similar flags despite distinct cultures.

The flag of Romania and that of Chad are almost identical with three vertical stripes of blue, yellow, and red. However, these countries have nothing in common in terms of history or culture. Romania uses these colors inspired by its historical past and its struggle for independence in the 19th century against neighboring empires. Chad, on the other hand, chose them during its independence in 1960, symbolizing the sky, the sun, and courage. Same colors, totally different meanings.

Another classic example is the flags of the Netherlands and Russia, which consist of horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue, and look very similar. However, the Netherlands adopted these colors as early as the 16th century to represent their maritime and commercial identity, while Russia, influenced by these Dutch colors, adopted them in the 17th century under Peter the Great to modernize the country's image towards the West. Two distant countries, two very distinct histories, but the same color palette.