not sure I even totally understand what a ‘tankie’ is aside from the generally accepted definition
It has nothing to do with this photo or even China. It is a dated communist insult going back to the 50s when many communist parties were infighting or splitting over their differing opinions on the Soviet occupation of Budapest following the october 1956 revolt of nationalist and anti-communist forces. I believe it specifically arose from arguments within the CPGB. However the sense in which it is used by liberals against communists today has little to do with any of that, it’s a word barely clinging to any semblance of meaning, much like how “woke” is used by reactionaries
It has nothing to do with this photo or even China. It is a dated communist insult going back to the 50s when many communist parties were infighting or splitting over their differing opinions on the Soviet occupation of Budapest following the october 1956 revolt of nationalist and anti-communist forces. I believe it specifically arose from arguments within the CPGB. However the sense in which it is used by liberals against communists today has little to do with any of that, it’s a word barely clinging to any semblance of meaning, much like how “woke” is used by reactionaries