Hugo Chavez
AGE: 52
OCCUPATION: President of Venezuela
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 2
PRO: A huge influence in Latin America, exporting his so-called democratic socialist ideology with a healthy dose of oil-generated aid to cash-strapped countries like Argentina and Cuba. Venezuela's economy is doing well, and for all the rancor evident in Chavez's relations with the White House, the U.S. remains his nation's largest trading partner.
CON: Chavez tends to shoot from the hip -- he has managed to alienate Mexico's government, and started major spats with Peru and Colombia. His inability or unwillingness to tackle corruption and his dictatorial tendencies could someday backfire.