24 despots

Hugo Chávez  has made Foreign Policy's list of odious despots, though only at No. 17: "The quack leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, Chávez promotes a doctrine of participatory democracy in which he is the sole participant, having jailed opposition leaders, extended term limits indefinitely, and closed independent media. Years in power: 11"

Raul Castrol weighs in at a comparatively benign No. 21, presumably because he's only been choking Cuba for two years. FP's writer overlooked the half-century that Fidel wore the same uniform. Still, the list is fascinating, as always. A curious thing: all the despots are men! Evidently there's still a glass ceiling when it comes to dictating. Blue skies! -- Dan Ford