A type of communist who generally supports the Soviet Union and Stalin. Often includes support for
North Korea and Maoist China as well.
In 1956, Hungary tried to leave the Soviet orbit to start its own fully
independent communist state. The Marxist world was split on whether Stalin should allow this to happen, or whether he should "send in the tanks." Those who supported the latter were dubbed Tankies.
Tankies are contrasted with the modern
descendants of Eurocommunism, which rejects Leninism/Stalinism in favor of a more soft-handed, humanitarian, pluralistic approach.