I wouldn’t say they’re strong supporters of communism per se, rather they’re attracted to the material trappings of communism. It’s red aesthetic fetishization.
Tankies aren’t monolithic, but the fact that so many of them idealize the modern-day imperialist government of Russia (and its right-wing ideology) indicates that they are either misguided or insincere in their stated beliefs. Opposition to the West is given more priority than actual leftism, even if it means endorsing fascism. Putin’s Russia represents the closest extant mirror to the idea of the USSR, if not its ideology, so it is idealized as its inheritor rather than its antithesis.
Similar is seen with China and its modern-day embrace of globalism and capital, despite still ostensibly having a communist government. It’s all about the aesthetics of the revolution, original intent be damned.
I wouldn’t say they’re strong supporters of communism per se, rather they’re attracted to the material trappings of communism. It’s red aesthetic fetishization.
Tankies aren’t monolithic, but the fact that so many of them idealize the modern-day imperialist government of Russia (and its right-wing ideology) indicates that they are either misguided or insincere in their stated beliefs. Opposition to the West is given more priority than actual leftism, even if it means endorsing fascism. Putin’s Russia represents the closest extant mirror to the idea of the USSR, if not its ideology, so it is idealized as its inheritor rather than its antithesis.
Similar is seen with China and its modern-day embrace of globalism and capital, despite still ostensibly having a communist government. It’s all about the aesthetics of the revolution, original intent be damned.