№ 6 - 2008
Pakulski J., Wasilewski J.
Political Elites’ Circulation: from Foxes to Lions

An attempt has been made in this article to use developments in the classical theory of renovation and circulation of elites for analyzing realities of modern political life. The metaphor of political foxes and political lions is attracted, which was applied in its time by Pareto and by Machiavelli. The authors introduce concrete material characterizing the dynamics of the arrangement of political forces in Poland in 1992 to 2008, showing the composition of the ruling cabinets and representation of political parties in the deputies’ assembly (in the Seim). A hypothesis is being put forward, that in a number of West European countries, after a long stage of “political foxes’” domination, advent of “political lions” is being outlined.