Which World Figures Should Be on the 2014 TIME 100?

Widely seen as the alternative to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey’s ruling party, Gul has walked a fine line between party loyalty and counterbalancing Erdogan’s authoritarian streak.

Abe’s unorthodox approach to fixing Japan’s postbubble economy, dubbed Abenomics, seems to be paying off, with the Nikkei up nearly 57% at the end of 2013.

Al-Mayassa oversees Qatar’s Museum Authority, which in 2012 acquired a $250 million Cézanne, the priciest purchase of a painting to date.

As leader of India’s Aam Aadmi Party, Kejriwal managed to turn a grassroots anticorruption movement into a political force that took New Delhi by surprise last year, defeating the major parties in local elections.

As Syria’s civil war pushes into its fourth year, President Assad remains firm in waging war on his own people, with no signs of the humanitarian crisis abating.

This Nigerian cement mogul is not only Africa¹s richest man but also its most generous, especially after announcing a $1.2 billion donation to his own foundation in early 2014.

This elusive figure has transformed Iraq’s branch of al-Qaeda into ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria), a fearsome terrorist group that stretches across the Levant.

As one of the men who helped bring down former President Mohamed Morsi, this military commander and devout Muslim is now a popular candidate for Egypt’s presidency.

The new Pontiff’s dedication to helping those in need, paired with his frank speech, has only bolstered his reputation as a champion of the people.

The technology pioneer — who reclaimed his title as world’s richest person in 2013 — spends most of his time working with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on projects like eradicating polio but recently came back to Microsoft as an adviser to new CEO Satya Nadella.

China’s newly elected President seems poised to lead his country into a new era by focusing on economic overhaul, cybersecurity and a strong military presence.

The North Korean dictator’s continued aggression toward South Korea and threats of a nuclear weapon make him a constant concern for world leaders.

The first woman to head the International Monetary Fund is looking for ways to address income inequality across the globe.

As president of the French far-right National Front, Le Pen recently led her party to victory in local elections around the country.

Germany’s Chancellor is a key player in the ongoing international negotiations over Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader known for his no-nonsense approach is likely to become India’s next Prime Minister.

Uruguay’s President is known for his commitment to austerity measures, ditching the state palace for a farmhouse. He made headlines at the end of 2013 when the country became the first to fully legalize marijuana.

The two former feminist punk rockers were freed from a Russian prison at the end of last year after serving time for political activism against Vladimir Putin.

Russia’s President came under fire for the country’s military invasion of the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine, after a surprisingly smooth Sochi Winter Olympics.

As the front man for India’s Congress Party, Gandhi is speaking out about female empowerment and the need for more political involvement from India’s youth.

Turkey’s authoritarian Prime Minister overcame antigovernment protests and a corruption scandal to score a huge win in local elections.

At 39, Italy’s youngest-ever Prime Minister took office in early 2014 and must now grapple with the nation’s worst economic slump since World War II.

Since the NSA whistle-blower leaked government documents, he has sought asylum in Russia, while publications like ‘Der Spiegel’ and the ‘Intercept’ continue to drop bombs from his document download.

The billionaire hedge-fund manager founded the environmental organization NextGen Climate in 2013 and is spearheading an ad campaign on climate change with nearly $100 million of his own money.

Since surviving a 2012 assassination attempt by the Taliban, the teen activist has become a voice for girls’ education and published her memoir, I Am Malala, last year.

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