EN
The authoress discusses the classic and contemporary issues connected with an elitist approach in sociology and the political sciences. A paradigmatic elitist thesis in its classic form is introduced. This has a bearing on issues and debates on the distribution of power, the dispute between 'elitists' and 'pluralists' which continues to be both important and relevant, as does the issue of 'the elites and democracy'. It is against such a theoretical outline and background that the empirical material is analysed, representing a self-portrait of the Polish political elites.