12 for 2012: world leaders to watch: a dozen leaders you can expect to see in the headlines in the year ahead.

• Author: Smith, Patricia
• Position: INTERNATIONAL

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CHINA

HU JINTAO

Since: 2003

Elected president by the Chinese Congress, Hu is also head of the Communist Party, the country's only legal political party. China's economy has boomed during his time in office, but the new wealth has not spread to rural areas. Human rights violations, severe urban pollution, and censorship of the Internet and other media continue. Because of term restrictions, Hu, 68, must retire as Communist Party chief next year and step down as president in 2013. But don't expect that to mean an end to China's authoritarian one-party state.

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GERMANY

ANGELA MERKEL

Since: 2005

Merkel was born in the former East Germany--a Communist country that reunified with democratic West Germany in 1990. She is the first East German, as well as the first woman, to serve as chancellor (Germany's equivalent to prime minister). Germany has the largest economy in Europe, and Merkel is considered the continent's most powerful leader. Germany and other wealthy European Union (E.U.) members have been asked to bail out debt-stricken E.U. nations like Greece. Though the idea is unpopular in Germany, economists say it's necessary to prevent the debt crisis from spreading throughout Europe and beyond.

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AFGHANISTAN

HAMID KARZAI

Since: 2001

Karzai, 53, has been president since the U.S. and its allies ousted the Taliban, a radical Muslim group, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. There are currently 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan trying to stabilize the country and prevent a Taliban resurgence. More than 1,800 Americans have died, and even though the U.S. is losing confidence in Karzai's ability to unite the country, President Obama has started to withdraw troops. Karzai has long pressed for negotiations with the Taliban, an idea the U.S. now supports, though prospects for peace remain slim.

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TURKEY

NECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN

Since: 2003

As the head of an Islamic party and prime minister since 2003, Erdogan has enhanced Turkey's influence among Muslim nations while also seeking European Union membership for Turkey, which straddles Europe and Asia. Under his leadership, Turkey's economy has continued to grow despite the global economic crisis. Erdogan's support for the Palestinians--including attempts to send supplies into Gaza, despite Israel's naval blockade--has strained Turkey's once-close relationship with Israel. But in the midst of the Arab Spring uprisings, Turkey is also viewed as a model for democracy in the Middle East.

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RUSSIA

VLDIMIR PUTIN

Since: 2000

Putin, 59, became president in 2000, when Russia was still recovering from Communist rule. He consolidated control over almost every aspect of society and crushed opposition. But he remains popular with Russians, who have seen steady gains in their living standards over the last decade...