Elected politicians and activists, trade unionists and spies, human rights campaigners and Nazi leaders, environmentalists and dictators, pioneers of women's rights and civil servants—you'll find them all in this indispensable guide to the key political figures of the 20th century. Over 2000 authoritative and up-to-date biographies, compiled by a team of international contributors and advisers, detail the lives and achievements of those men and women who have been instrumental in shaping political events and opinion in all parts of the world. In addition, over ninety major figures have their own feature-length biographies that assess their political significance in greater depth.The global and topical coverage is supplemented by quotations by or about people in the book. Selected guides to further reading point the reader to the best, most thought-provoking biographies available. Tables of the prime ministers, presidents, and other political leaders on many countries, and an index of leaders by country, are also included for quick reference.