Tankie is an often derogatory label used to describe Marxist-Leninists or Socialists. The definition of said label is very loose, as it can range from socialists to specific Marxist-Leninists (such as those who support Modern China), and it is often used in context of whoever speaks it. Despite the term being derogatory, some Marxist-Leninists use the term ironically, and even utilise it in their names such as the discord server Tankie Bunker.
Origins
'Tankie' was originally used in context of the Hungarian counter-revolution of 1956, which described the pro-Soviet people living in Hungary as 'Tankies', because the Soviets brought tanks into Hungary in order to stop the counter-revolution.
Uses in Western Media
In October 16, 2021, the New York Times published an article which used the word 'Tankie' for the first time.[1]
See Also
References
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“On the left now you see several impulses. There is an irrelevant but fascinating fringe of very online “tankies””
Ross Douthat (2021-10-16). "James Bond Has No Time for China" New York Times. Archived from the original.