Common Consciousness vs Reality
Many people – including politicians themselves – believe that the ruling class is simply a cross section of society, a circumstantial microscale of the nation. We hear arguments that "parliament reflects the full society" that politicians do not come from outer space, and do not come from Australia that they come from our schools, companies, churches, organizations. That even citizens with lower education or circumstantial business have representatives there.
But specified conviction is very problematic. Sociologist Prof. Janusz Czapiński calls them even trivial – pointing out that the fact that being a farmer or a individual does not make politics a better typical of a given social group. Moreover, the figures show that Members do not represent a faithful miniature reflection of society. For example, 92% of Polish Members have higher education, whereas in the full population, this percent was about 23% (1). This simple fact proves that political elites are much more homogenous and selected than the general public. So can we proceed to keep that they “come out of the people” and full represent them?
Selective mechanisms for selecting elites
Classical elite theories have long challenged the imagination that power automatically rests in the hands of a typical majority. A 100 years ago Vilfredo Pareto formulated the concept circulation of elites, according to which regardless of the strategy always governs the privileged minority, replaced over time by another narrow group(2)(3). In the celebrated phrase Pareto “History is simply a cemetery of aristocracy”, signals that subsequent coups or revolutions only replace 1 elite with another, not destruct the very division into the ruling elite and masses. Likewise Gaetano Mosca and Robert Michels They pointed to the iron rights of oligarchy – even in democracies there is always a narrow group of decision-makers. Nowadays these ideas make among others. Michael Hartmann, examining the composition of elites in different countries. Hartmann shows that political and economical elites recruit from narrow, privileged circles (e.g. graduates of elite schools) and live in isolation from the experiences of the average citizen(4). They frequently live in a different world – in exclusive neighborhoods, with a different level of wealth – so their perception of reality is limited, and the image of the society they transmit to us “is not representative” As a result, Hartmann notes, many politicians She's far from society.By losing contact with him.
If the elites do not appear spontaneously as a miniature nation, how do they emerge? investigation shows that there are selective recruitment mechanisms. Polish sociologist Vladimir Wesołowski emphasized that political elites monopolize key functions in the management process – formulating diagnosis and action programmes. They have in this area incomparably more force than bottom-up social initiatives (5). In another words, they are elites (often in cooperation with another expert or business elites) shape discourse and policies, limiting the influence of average citizens to choose between top-down offers. Wesołowski and another sociologists besides pointed out that Entering the elite requires certain resources – social, cultural and sometimes economical capital – which are not evenly distributed in society(6)(7). This results in the re-enactment of elites from those already privileged (so-called "adults"). reproduction of the elite), although sometimes they are joined by individuals outside the erstwhile elite (so-called circulation of elites) . Edmund Wnuk-Lipinski he showed this on the example of the Polish systemic transformation: after 1989 fresh elites formed partially by the tributary of fresh people outside the erstwhile system, but partially by the continuation of influences of the earlier nomenclature(7)(8). In Poland, 2 main layers of elites were crystallized in the 1990s – post-communist (from the erstwhile system) and postsolidarity (from the democratic opposition) . It is not hard to announcement that no of them were “microsocial” – both were alternatively closed clubs with circumstantial résumés and experiences. Grandson-Lipinski subjected these elites to criticism, indicating that frequently They focused on their peculiar interestsinstead of the common good. He besides warned that the demolition of the elite responsibilities to society and the tendency to oligarchy pose a serious threat to the quality of democracy . In another words, the elites selected in the selection process may prove to be unable to truly lead serving society if there are no mechanisms for accounting them and a supply of “fresh blood”.
Elite III of the Polish Republic: anchored in the 20th century, society in the 21st
Poland has been an interesting example of the gap between elites and the remainder of society. The political class over the Vistula is mentally and technologically frequently in the realities of the 1990s. or 2000., while society has rapidly evolved in the fresh century. The first generation of the III Polish Republic – politicians formed inactive in the period of systemic transformation – inactive holds many key positions. Just look at the leading figures of the political scene: most of the leaders of the Polish ruling parties in fresh years began their public careers 3 decades ago. Their experience shaped the late 1980s and 1990s, the conflict for democracy, then the chaotic economical transformation. meantime society stands still. The younger generations of Poles grew up in completely different realities – we belong to the European Union, usage the net and smartphones, travel, work abroad. Over 2 million Poles emigrated to Western European countries after 2004, gaining international educational and professional experience. We are very frequently very successful at global universities, and we are chosen to be key in the largest global organizations. Education rates grew rapidly in the country (the percent of people with a university diploma increased respective times compared to the 1990s) and social standards changed. The generation of today's thirty- and forty-year-olds moves freely in the digital planet and in the realities of the globalised economy. Unfortunately, Many politicians do not seem to keep up with these changes. For example, the public debate conducted by any elites continues to revolve around disputes rooted in the past (communism settlements, old ideological divisions), while younger generations would like to discuss the challenges of the future – from the technological revolution, through geopolitical challenges or number rights, to energy transformation and utmost economical inequalities. The technological competence of decision-makers is not always keeping pace with the digital age: it is adequate to callback the noisy cases of politicians having difficulty handling fresh media or ignoring cybersecurity threats. All this makes Polish political elites frequently give the impression “to be stripped of reality”, surviving in the past era, while society has changed beyond recognition. As a result, citizens frequently They don't feel listened to or understood by the rulers. This is simply a serious problem: if the elites cannot reflect current needs and social aspirations, they will lose leadership capacity – and the social mandate of their governments will wobble at the base.
Reflections at the end – where do our elites go?
Looking at the above facts and analyses, emerges ambiguous image of Polish political elite. On the 1 hand, we are dealing with a group of people who are increasingly educated and professional in politics, on the another hand – a group frequently separated from the remainder of society and not always able to face the challenges of modern times. Elites are not a natural reflection of the social structure, but alternatively the consequence of selection by parties, interests and historical conditions. In Poland, the systemic transformation brought about an exchange of rulers, but did not origin a miraculous change of politicians into “ordinary citizens” – on the contrary, a fresh 1 rapidly developed political classwho began to regulation according to his own logic. Today, many of these people are the establishment of power, frequently with a long internship, which raises questions about their ability to autoreflexion and renewal.
Society is besides not blameless – it legitimizes the elite arrangement in the elections. A better political illustration cannot be achieved illiteracy of Polish voters than case of Piotr Naimski – a man who has fought for the energy safety of Poland over the years, personally leading to the implementation of Baltic Pipe, 1 of the most crucial infrastructure projects of the last decades. Effect? The same Naimski did not even get into the Sejm, due to the fact that the sovereign felt that empty slogans, celebrities or populist screamers were more worthy of his voice. Bravo Poles – masters of political self-destruction.
Therefore, under restricted conditions of choice (when the main political forces are not renewing very much in staff), voters are sentenced to professional politicians separated from their regular realities. So there is simply a increasing natural frustration and criticism of “political class”. There are allegations that elites care mostly about themselves, and the public interest can be secondary to them. It's even a term. ‘Comprador elites’ – derived from postcolonial explanation – meaning the native elite serving abroad interests and exploiting their own society(12). This concept is sometimes utilized in public debate to indicate that our leaders, alternatively of defending national interest, implement agendas beneficial to narrow groups or abroad entities. This is simply a very serious accusation, historically referring to the elite of the countries dependent on powers. Is it justified in Poland? Are we actually dealing with the Komradorian elites, separated from national interests and society? Or can our elites, despite their shortcomings, be able to balance different rations and lead the country to progress? These questions stay open. It is worth putting them on, due to the fact that the condition of political elite depends on the quality of our democracy – that is, the issue of the highest importance for all of us.
https://x.com/bsiwekk/status/1912881392674812097
Bibliography: investigation and theories: W. Wesołowski, E. Wnuk-Lipiński, M. Hartmann, V. Pareto; wage data: Money.pl, Chicago Booth Review; publications OKO.press, Sociological Studies, Social Discourses. All sources quoted in the text.
