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I always assumed tankie was more related to Stalinists and USSR stans, maybe toss in some authoritarian Maoists for good measure. At least that's how I've always used it. The auth-left is pretty worthy of scorn imo.
This is pretty much it right here. It's a term invented by Marxists to disparage asshole Marxists.
not true at all. "tankies" was popularized by westerners (brits iirc?) to refer to other, pro-soviet westerners during WW2/Cold war. it is not a leftist term. when used within leftism it is considered revisionist/counter-revolutionary by marxists and antifascist by anarchists.
i've noticed the anarchist and communist divide within leftists is pretty strong online: anarchists hate the red fascists and communists hate the ineffectual individualists blablabla. but this opens up a good leftist "lesser of two evils" thought experiment: capitalism collapsed, nationalist fascism is as powerful and organized as it can, and there are only two options within the left, would you rather...
a) support state communism knowing full well that individual liberties will pay the price while gauging war against fascism and counterrevolution
b) support anarchism knowing full well you'll never address global/systemic issues and the safety/freedom you created is individualist/tribal at best
crude oversimplifications, but might be a good conversation?
feel free to criticize but please, americans and europeans, take a deep breath before coming in with CIA/NATO propaganda. check yourself and your sources first.