Age: 46
Occupation: President of Syria
Many hoped Assad would have fallen from power by now, but he has survived a year of rebellion by unleashing ruthless violence against opposition strongholds, turning that effort into a sectarian civil war. With Western powers loath to intervene and a rebellion outgunned by regime forces, Assad has to hope he's done enough to ensure that if Syria's political future is to be negotiated, he'll be at the table rather than in exile or prison.