By: Benedict Gombocz

Born 28 October 1956.

6th and current President of Iran (since 3 August 2005).

Main political leader of Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran, coalition grouped of Iranian political groups.

Regarded as controversial figure both within Iran and around the world.

Has been criticized domestically for economic errors and negligence for human rights.

Began gas rationing plan in 2007 to decrease Iran’s fuel consumption cut interest rates that could be charged by private and public banking facilities.

Backs Iran’s nuclear program.

2009 re-election was widely debated and resulted in protests and attracted global criticism.

Born 11 September 1965.

Current President of Syria (since 17 July 2000) and Regional Secretary of Syrian-headed branch of Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party (since 20 June 2000).

Hafez al-Assad, his father, was the President of Syria for 29 years (22 February 1971-10 June 2000).

Was elected twice (2000 and 2007), unopposed both times.

Syrian demonstrators have demanded his resignation in the wake of ongoing violent Syrian uprising; over 9,000 Syrian civilians have been killed by Assad’s government, many more injured, and tens of thousands of protesters arrested.

As a result of the use of violence against the demonstrators, Arab League, United States, EU members, and GCC states have denounced Assad’s regime and have called for sanctions against Syria.

Born 7 May 1892.

Died 4 May 1980.

1st President of Yugoslavia (14 January 1953-4 May 1980).

22nd PM of Yugoslavia (29 November 1943-29 June 1963).

Held rank of Marshal of Yugoslavia for 37 years (1943 until he died in 1980).

Had highly approved reputation globally in both Western and Eastern blocs; won almost 98 foreign decorations, which included Legion of Honour and Order of the Bath.

Ideal architect of “second Yugoslavia,” socialist federation that existed from WWII until 1991, year of Yugoslavia’s breakup.

One of main founders and promoters of Non-Aligned Movement, organization of neutral communist nations, and was its first Secretary-General.

Backed policy of neutrality between two enemy blocs in Cold War; success of such diplomatic and economic policies led him to head Yugoslavia’s economic boom and expansions of 1960s and 1970s.

Born 13 August 1926.

First Secretary of Communist Party of Cuba (3 October 1965-19 April 2011).

President of Council of State of Cuba (2 December 1976-24 February 2008).

President of Council of Ministers of Cuba (2 December 1976-24 February 2008).

PM of Cuba (16 February 1959-2 December 1976).

His regime has turned Cuba into socialist republic with nationalization of industry and business under state ownership and passing of socialist reforms in every area of society.

Also held position of Secretary-General of Non-Aligned Movement twice: 1979-1983 and 2006-2008.

Rose to power through 1959 Cuban Revolution, leading overthrow of U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.

Born 26 January 1918.

Died 25 December 1989.

General Secretary of Romanian Communist Party (22 March 1965-22 December 1989).

1st President of State Council (9 December 1967-28 March 1974).

1st President of Romania (28 March 1974-22 December 1989).

His regime was marked in first decade by open policy towards Western Europe and United States, departing from that of other Warsaw Pact members during Cold War; denounced Soviet Union’s intervention in 1968 Prague Spring.

His second decade was described as increasingly cruel and oppressive regime- the only Stalinist regime of its time; was also marked by cult of personality and worsening of relations with West and Soviet Union.

His government was toppled in Romanian Revolution of 1989; he and his wife Elena were executed by firing squad after televised and hurriedly planned two-hour court session.

Born 4 December 1892.

Died 20 November 1975.

Caudillo of Spain (1 April 1939-20 November 1975).

68th PM of Spain (30 January 1938-8 June 1973).

Rose to power while acknowledging ideals of far-right Falagne movement, which was for propaganda purposes, as he had no party affiliation before he became Head of State.

Used titles Caudillo de España and Generalissimo; was formally called His Excellency, The Head Of State.

Took part in coup d’etat against Popular Front regime; the coup failed and led to Spanish Civil War in which Franco rose as leader of Nationalists in opposition to Popular Front regime.

Emerged victorious in Civil War with support from Germany and Italy and led right-wing authoritarian government, acting as de factoregent of restored Kingdom of Spain.

Agreed to Spanish neutrality in WWII ; because of his strong anti-Communist policy, Spain and United States created diplomatic and trade alliance.

Born 7 June 1942.

Died 20 October 2011.

Ruler of Libya from 1969 until he died in 2011.

Was leading supporter for United States of Africa; served as Chairperson of African Union (AU) from 2 February 2009 until 31 January 2010 (11 months, 29 days).

Obtained chemical weapons in 1980s; Libya was condemned as pariah state, and some countries imposed sanctions.

Six days after former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured by United States in 2003, Gaddafi condemned Tripoli’s weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and accepted international inspections to prove that he would keep his commitment.

Protests against his rule began in February 2011 after revolutions in neighboring Egypt and Tunisia and the rest of Arab World; opposition created their own government.

Was captured alive in Sirte by Libyan National Liberation Army (NLA) following NATO attack on his convoy during fall of Sirte; was killed by NLA fighters.

By the time of his death, his 42-year dictatorship made him fourth-longest serving non-monarch since 1900, and longest-serving Arab leader.

Born 20 April 1889.

Died 30 April 1945.

Chancellor of Germany (30 January 1933-30 April 1945) and dictator of Nazi Germany (as Führer and Reichskanzler, 2 August 1934-30 April 1945).

Joined German Workers’ Party, short-lived predecessor of Nazi Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, NSDAP), in 1919.

Led coup d'état, known as Beer Hall Putch, in Munich, in 1923, which failed and resulted in his imprisonment (he was sentenced to two years, but only served nine months); during his impriosnment, he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle).

Gained support by attacking Versailles Treaty and advancing Pan-Germanism, anti-semitism, and anti-communism with charismatic practice and Nazi propaganda.

His regime is closely associated with birth of fascism, WWII, and Holocaust.

Born 28 April 1937.

Died 30 December 2006.

5th President of Iraq (16 July 1979-9 April 2003).

PM of Iraq (16 July 1979-23 March 1991; 29 May 1994-9 April 2003).

Repressed number of movements, including Shi’a and Kurdish movements whose goals were to overthrow government or gain independence, respectively.

Retained power during Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988; invaded and annexed Kuwait in 1990.

Although international coalition freed Kuwait in Gulf War of 1991, it did not end his regime.

Coalition forces led by U.S. and U.K. invaded Iraq in March 2003 after U.S. President George W. Bush and British PM Tony Blair accused him of manufacturing WMDs and having connections to al-Qaeda; Saddam’s Ba’ath party was dissolved and he was captured on 13 December 2003 and put on trial.

Was found guilty of charges related to 1982 killing of 148 Iraqi Shi’ites and was sentenced to death by hanging.

Born 16 February 1941.

Died 17 December 2011.

Supreme Leader of North Korea (8 July 1994-17 December 2011).

General Secretary of Workers’ Party of Korea (8 October 1997-17 December 2011).

Succeeded his father and DPRK founder Kim Il-sung following older Kim’s death in 1994.

Was supreme commander of Korean People’s Army, fourth-largest standing army in the world.

North Korea’s constitution was modified to give him title “supreme leader”; was also referred to, among others, as “Dear Leader,” “our Father,” and “the General.”

Was ranked 31st in Forbes Magazine’s List of The World’s Most Powerful People in 2010.

Died of suspected heart attack while travelling on train outside Pyongyang; was succeeded by youngest son, Kim Jong-un.

Born 30 or 31 August 1954.

1st and current President of Belarus (since 20 July 1994).

Chairperson of Supreme State Council of Union State (since 26 January 2000).

Worked as director of government-owned agricultural farm before political career.

Under his government, Belarus has come to be seen as a country whose conduct departs from international law and whose rule grossly neglects human rights.

Belarus has never had poll regarded as just by international monitors since Lukashenka came to power; as a result, it has been referred to as “the last true remaining dictatorship in the heart of Europe” by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials are target of sanctions on Belarus placed by EU on grounds of outrageous human rights violations.

Born 20 August 1941.

Died 11 March 2006.

3rd President of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (23 July 1997-5 October 2000).

1st President of Serbia (8 May 1989-23 July 1997).

Led Socialist Party of Serbia from its founding in 1990.

His presidency was marked by dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991 and violent Yugoslav wars that followed as result of ongoing tensions.

Amidst 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, he was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity for presiding over attempted ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Albanians, in connection with wars in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo by International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Resigned Yugoslav presidency amongst demonstrations, after disputed presidential election of 24 September 2000; was arrested by Yugoslav federal authorities on Saturday 31 March 2001, on suspicion of corruption, abuse of power, and embezzlement.

Died in prison cell in The Hague before a verdict could be determined.

Born 29 July 1883.

Died 28 April 1945.

Head of Government of Italy and Duce of Fascism (24 December 1925-25 July 1943).

40th PM of Italy (31 October 1922-24 December 1925).

First Marshall of Empire (30 March 1938-25 July 1943).

Head of State of Italian Social Republic (23 September 1943-25 April 1945).

Credited with being one of central figures in rise of fascism.

Amongst domestic achievements of his government between 1924 and 1939 were public works programs like taming of Pontine Marshes, improvement of job opportunities, public transport, and so-called Italian economic battles; also settled Roman Question by signing Lateran Treaty between Kingdom of Italy and Holy See.

Was defeated on 24 July 1943 and overthrown subsequent day, but was rescued from prison on 12 September in bold Gran Sasso raid by German special forces.

Led short-lived Nazi puppet state Italian Social Republic; attempted to flee north, only to be captured and executed by Lake Como by Italian partisans.

Born 7 October 1952.

Current PM of Russia (since 8 May 2008; also served as PM from 9 August 1999-7 May 2000 – Acting: 9 August 1999-16 August 1999).

President of Russia (31 December 1999-7 May 2008 – Acting: 31 December 1999-7 May 2000).

Leader of United Russia (since 1 January 2008).

At United Russia Congress held 24 September 2011, Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev announced Putin will run for third, non-consecutive term in 2012 presidential election, which he easily won in first round, although protests against him have escalated since late 2011; approval rating was only 52% in January 2012.

President-elect of 2012 presidential election; will assume office 7 May 2012.

Was popular throughout presidency (highest approval rating was 81% in June 2007), but some of his actions have been questioned and condemned by Western critics and domestic political opposition as undemocratic.

Born 18 December 1878.

Died 5 March 1953.

General Secretary of Communist Party of Soviet Union (3 April 1922-16 October 1952).

Chairman of Council of Ministers (6 May 1941-5 March 1953).

People’s Commissar for Defense of Soviet Union (19 July 1941-25 February 1946).

Used position of General Secretary to strengthen his power after Vladimir Lenin died in 1924 to silence and detain all political opponents within Communist Party, including those who worked for Lenin, like Leon Trotsky, who became one of Stalin’s main critics, and was deported from Soviet Union in 1929.

Replaced Lenin’s New Economic Policy with command economy and Five-Year Plans in 1928, which turned U.S.S.R. into great industrial power; this served as basis for its rising as world’s second biggest economy after WWII.

His rule deported millions of people to penal labor camps; organized Great Purge to execute political opponents, including Red Army leaders accused of involvement in plots to overthrow Soviet government.

His regime was marked by cult of personality until he died in 1953; successor Nikita Khrushchev denounced his legacy in 1956 and de-Stalinized Soviet Union, but modern opinions of Stalin remain divided, with some regarding him as tyrant, and others as efficient leader.

Born 26 December 1893.

Died 9 September 1976.

1st Chairman of Central Committee of

Communist Party of China (19 June

1945-9 September 1976).

1st Chairman of Central Politburo of

Communist Party of China (20 March

1943-28 September 1958).

Architect, father, and founder of

People’s Republic of China (PRC) from

its establishment in 1949 and was its

first leader until he died in 1976.

Rose to power through ordering Long

March, creating United Front with

Kuomintang (KMT) during Second

Sino-Japanese War to block Japanese

invasion, and later leading Chinese

Communist Party to victory over KMT

forces of Chiang Kai-shek in Chinese

Civil War of 1949.