The officially recognized definition of a Tankie is one who is a strong supporter of communism. Which, I think we all agree is considered a “left” wing ideal.
It’s also strongly authoritarian, but it’s solidly in the authoritarian left. So people calling others “Tankies” are, in theory, more right-wing than the people they’re insulting. It’s a left-punching insult.
Usually these people are strong supporters of China and the old Soviet Union and are staunch critics of ‘imperialist’ nations such as Britain and the USA.
One, there isn’t some governing body for the term “Tankie”.
Second, the definition of Tankie means supporting China and Russia (TODAY RUSSIA) only because of their authoritarian policies, regardless if it is anywhere adjacent to actual communism or not.
For example, many Tankies will support any action Russia takes (which we’ve seen with Ukraine) if it opposes “the west”. And no one can argue that modern Russia is even kind of communistic.
I mean, it really depends on the qualities that you utilize to define “leftism”. The real delineation between the two is their organizational hierarchy and tolerance of authority. Not exactly sure how that is used to determine who’s more of a leftist.
organizational hierarchy and tolerance of authority
Yeah, the communist dictatorships where the government controlled everything and dictated all of everybody’s environment down from the national level are pretty light on organizational hierarchy and authoritarianism.
The officially recognized definition of a Tankie is one who is a strong supporter of communism. Which, I think we all agree is considered a “left” wing ideal.
It’s also strongly authoritarian, but it’s solidly in the authoritarian left. So people calling others “Tankies” are, in theory, more right-wing than the people they’re insulting. It’s a left-punching insult.
Usually these people are strong supporters of China and the old Soviet Union and are staunch critics of ‘imperialist’ nations such as Britain and the USA.
One, there isn’t some governing body for the term “Tankie”.
Second, the definition of Tankie means supporting China and Russia (TODAY RUSSIA) only because of their authoritarian policies, regardless if it is anywhere adjacent to actual communism or not.
For example, many Tankies will support any action Russia takes (which we’ve seen with Ukraine) if it opposes “the west”. And no one can argue that modern Russia is even kind of communistic.
It’s called a dictionary. And even though there are many of them, they agree on the definition. Words mean things. Kinda cool how that works.
That is not how language works
I’m pretty sure between an anarchist and a tankie there should be no question who leans further left and it ain’t the tankie
I mean, it really depends on the qualities that you utilize to define “leftism”. The real delineation between the two is their organizational hierarchy and tolerance of authority. Not exactly sure how that is used to determine who’s more of a leftist.
Yeah, the communist dictatorships where the government controlled everything and dictated all of everybody’s environment down from the national level are pretty light on organizational hierarchy and authoritarianism.