Social Elites and Populism.

      Аннотация: The aim of the herein book is to analyse the perception and significance of the social elites in the past and in the present, the phenomenon of populism, while also the mutual ties between the elites and populism. Several working theses shall also be formulated, while the notions of social elites and elitism, as well as the chosen theories of the elites shall be explained. The issue of spontaneous and purposeful order shall be considered that have a direct relation with the dilemma of liberal democracy, or authoritarian governments, which all populists in essence aspire to. An attempt to briefly describe the features and key competences of the elites shall also be made. The search for the answer to the question of what populism is, why it is destructive for the society and the economy, while also demoralizing for the people and threatening for democracy and state law. There shall also be two brief descriptions of case studies – the Argentinian Peronism and the Polish “good change”.

Ключевые слова: social elites, Populism, transformation in Poland, Peronism, good change in Poland, Democracy, Authoritarianism