Introduction. In an era where social media has become a powerful platform for political discourse and activism, the narratives of extremism have found a new breeding ground. One such group that has garnered attention in recent years is the tankies, a faction of self-identified communists who often prioritize defending authoritarian regimes over advocating for human rights and democracy.
Friends of Socialist China's book launch for leading figure Carlos Martinez's new book, The East is Still Red, proved to be an occasion for tankies to come together and celebrate their shared ideology. The event showcased the strong ties that some Western leftists have with regimes like China, despite their questionable human rights records.
Unpicking the latest resurgence in political name-calling on the British left reveals the deep divides within leftist circles, with tankies often at odds with more liberal or democratic socialists. The ideological clashes highlight the complexities of leftist politics and the challenges of finding common ground.
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch. Everything happens faster in the future, it's been said. Lately that feels true: It's as if we're constantly on edge waiting for the next controversial statement or action from tankies that could further polarize the political landscape.
With Russia's massive invasion of Ukraine from three directions, Russian President Vladimir Putin seems determined to overthrow Ukraine's government and establish control over the region. The tankie response to this crisis has been mixed, with some expressing support for Russia's actions while others condemn the aggression.
It's been a minute since we last checked in on the tankies—that breed of humans who think imperialism is bad, but only the United States can be blamed for it. Their selective outrage and defense of authoritarian regimes have raised concerns among human rights advocates and political analysts.
Learn from language experts as they tackle global political issues and demonstrate how they analyze political data in this award-winning online series. Understanding the rhetoric and language used by tankies is crucial in dissecting their worldview and motivations.
The tankie phenomenon pits Western self-identified communists against those struggling against China's human rights abuses, highlighting the complexities of international relations and ideological battles within the left.
The 52 Irish politicians who found themselves banned from Russia last week responded with varying degrees of surprise and sarcasm, revealing the diplomatic tensions that can arise from criticizing authoritarian regimes. The incident underscored the challenges of navigating international relations in an increasingly polarized world.
