they call themselves communist because they align with ‘communist’ authoritarian regimes. that doesn’t make them left wing. at most they could be knocked to centrist for being socially leftish while politically authoritarian right
I’m of the opinion that left/right has become strongly economic in its connotations, and therefore, tankies, as anti-capitalists, are still strongly left. Just, y’know, being stupid about it.
Sure, but you’d have to accept that it’s all relative. A left-wing position in Saudi Arabia is not necessarily a left-wing position in the USA.
Left/Right originated as change vs. conservatism, but with the rise of the revolutionary right-wing (fascists) and ideological reactionaries, it has morphed to generally mean Anti-Hierarchy vs. Hierarchy.
Most prominent in this is in economics - those who are ideologically left support systems which, in theory, do not lend hierarchical power to any given individual or class. Those who are ideologically right support systems which unambiguously do. As such, ideologies which aim to reduce economic hierarchy - from Social Democracy seeking to lessen the coercive aspects of capitalist wealth, to Marxist-Leninists asserting that state socialism totally is above board and not a vanguardist power play, to full-on-ancoms seeking a society from each according to their ability, to each according to their need - are left. Ideologies which seek to preserve or increase economic hierarchy - neolibs at its most mild, ancaps, fascists, and corporatocrats at its most severe - are right.
I agree that its realitive, but tbh it kinda seems like you took “Left is inherently good, right is inherently bad” and then defined around it. Communism (or more specifically, Stalin) is slavery to the state, and thats definitely a heirarchy and definitely left wing.
They’re communist, thats what makes them left wing.
Yall are so quick to say anything bad is right wing, it turns into denial.
they call themselves communist because they align with ‘communist’ authoritarian regimes. that doesn’t make them left wing. at most they could be knocked to centrist for being socially leftish while politically authoritarian right
I’m of the opinion that left/right has become strongly economic in its connotations, and therefore, tankies, as anti-capitalists, are still strongly left. Just, y’know, being stupid about it.
Honestly, this whole “what team are you really on?” discourse is kinda annoying.
Like, can anyone properly define left, center, and right?
Sure, but you’d have to accept that it’s all relative. A left-wing position in Saudi Arabia is not necessarily a left-wing position in the USA.
Left/Right originated as change vs. conservatism, but with the rise of the revolutionary right-wing (fascists) and ideological reactionaries, it has morphed to generally mean Anti-Hierarchy vs. Hierarchy.
Most prominent in this is in economics - those who are ideologically left support systems which, in theory, do not lend hierarchical power to any given individual or class. Those who are ideologically right support systems which unambiguously do. As such, ideologies which aim to reduce economic hierarchy - from Social Democracy seeking to lessen the coercive aspects of capitalist wealth, to Marxist-Leninists asserting that state socialism totally is above board and not a vanguardist power play, to full-on-ancoms seeking a society from each according to their ability, to each according to their need - are left. Ideologies which seek to preserve or increase economic hierarchy - neolibs at its most mild, ancaps, fascists, and corporatocrats at its most severe - are right.
I agree that its realitive, but tbh it kinda seems like you took “Left is inherently good, right is inherently bad” and then defined around it. Communism (or more specifically, Stalin) is slavery to the state, and thats definitely a heirarchy and definitely left wing.
I mentioned that Marxist-Leninists (‘Communists’ in common parlance) are ideologically left, even though in practice their system is dogshit.