Spanning the end of the Cold War up through the present day, this publication covers figures from around the globe, including at least one entry from each of the 190 countries of the world, as well as many leaders of states or peoples that are only nominally independent. Political leaders of every stripe - from Corey Aquino to Vladimir Zhirinovsky - are found in this comprehensive and accessible A-Z dictionary. Approximately 400 biographies detail the lives and achievements of men and women who have been instrumental in shaping political events and opinion in all parts of the world. A further reading list to help guide the reader to the best biography on the subject follows each entry, and an appendix includes an index of leaders by country.