Theoretical aspects of studying political elites

The paper approaches theoretical and axiological aspects of the concept of elites, which could influence quasi- empirical or empirical assumptions about elites. Author analyses political elite as a functionally separated group, proposing neutral approach to the study of elite, assuming that under certain conditions theoretical and axiological statements can be separated. Pointing at three general perspectives: hierarchical, institutional and psychological, author supports the second one of them as the most adequate for contemporary conditions. Author discusses the meanings of three phenomena observed during the systemic transformation: 1) resources of power which are not anchored institutionally, 2) elite – masses division, 3) forming of democratic leadership; claiming that these should be studied from the neutral perspective.Udostępnienie publikacji Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego finansowane w ramach projektu „Doskonałość naukowa kluczem do doskonałości kształcenia”. Projekt realizowany jest ze środków Europejskiego Funduszu Społecznego w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój; nr umowy: POWER.03.05.00-00-Z092/17-00