Categories of ‘Political Actor’ and ‘Political Agency’ as Research Objects of Polish Political Theorists
Categories of ‘Political Actor’ and ‘Political Agency’ as Research Objects of Polish Political Theorists

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to present the history of research on the categories of “political actor” and “political agency” conducted by Polish political scientists. The arti- cle shows how they were defined and how the theories of society and politics prevalent at a given time shaped their understanding. Initially, both categories alluded to the col- lective vision of activity, to finally appreciate the role of individuals in initiating activity. The way researchers viewed the significance of political actors was changing over time as well; at the beginning, social classes and subsequently large groups were seen as cru- cial, while individuals were only eventually recognised as the source of agency. The ar- ticle demonstrates that both categories have changed over the years, adapted to new so- cial order, social structure and, in particular, to the ideologies prevalent in society. The article pays special attention to the concepts developed by Mirosław Karwat and An- drzej Czajowski.

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