They were/are Socialist. Communism is an end stage that can only be achieved once the class struggle has been overcome on a global scale. Unfortunately since no button exists to make this happen instantly and perfectly a transitional period is necessary, and the most successful/best answer that has been put forth thus far on how to implement this is the proletarian state. This is what tankies (and communists more generally understand/believe).
Not all the communists are tankies but all the tankies are communist.
The difference is where you believe the power should be concentrated.
I believe in a stateless system and that any system with a state is not communism.
Congratulations you believe the exact same thing as tankies in that regard.
So we all agree that China and the USSR have never come close to communism, correct?
They were/are Socialist. Communism is an end stage that can only be achieved once the class struggle has been overcome on a global scale. Unfortunately since no button exists to make this happen instantly and perfectly a transitional period is necessary, and the most successful/best answer that has been put forth thus far on how to implement this is the proletarian state. This is what tankies (and communists more generally understand/believe).