heads of state

Biography of South African head of state Nelson Mandela, discussing his personal life, his imprisonment as a political prisoner in South Africa, and his role in the peaceful end to apartheid in 1994.

Profiles eight modern African political leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Haile Selassie.

Profiles eight Arab and Israeli leaders who have been instrumental in shaping the turbulent and sometimes triumphant histories of their lands.

An account of the life of the man who shaped the Soviet Union, from pre-revolutionary Russia to its evolution as a superpower and the descent of the "Iron Curtain.".

Examines the history of Cuba under the rule of Fidel Castro and the life of the dictator, discussing his education, rise to power, political beliefs, and foreign relations.

Offers a brief introduction to the life and times of Libian dictator Muammar Qaddafi, discussing how he became ruler of Libya, why he alienated many of his Arab neighbors, how his actions impacted the world as a whole, and other related topics.

A biography of Fidel Castro, the famous Cuban revolutionary and dictator who has ruled Cuba for over four decades.

A biography of Mao Zedong, founder of a communist state in China in 1949, hailed by some as a hero, by others, a tyrant.

A biography of the woman who rose to political prominence after the death of her husband and was elected president of the Philippines in 1986.

A biography of the Chinese leader who lost all his offices during the Chinese Cultural Revolution but later returned to power and recently retired from the Central Committee to the Communist Party.