Highly authoritarian leftists

There is actually technically no such thing as an authoritarian leftist. Leftism is defined as more egalitarian/less hierarchical. Tankies are right wingers that have been pushed into the same spaces as leftists because they are against Western nationalism.

You’ve fallen into the trap. Political stances aren’t on a spectrum, they’re multi dimensional

Some leftists believe in anarchy, in a lack of hard boundaries and a more organic cultural resistance to bad actors. Some believe in rigid structure, in the rules creating equity and equality.

Tankies believe in an authoritarian, top down force that will impress ideology onto the masses.

All lefties believe in equity and/or equality. That’s the common thread. Tankies are crazy high on the authoritarian vs anarchy spectrum, but they genuinely think that road will lead to an equitable society

You’re right about politicial ideas being more than 1 dimensional, but I think of the left-right spectrum as one specific measurement.