Stalinist tendencies

In light of Gordon Brown's much heralded call for a new era in politics, with consensus to the fore and co-operation over party lines, it's perhaps instructive to recall those 'Stalinistic' comments made before Brown ascended to the leadership. Particularly in light of Andrew Bacejevitch's review of Geoffrey Robert's new biography of the man in question (Stalin, not Brown. Keep up).

For any great power, the essential prerequisite of "peace" is that others should accede to the aspiring hegemon’s own requirements.

This is, of course, what Brown means when he calls for 'consensus' - that everyone should agree with him.