The present volume of «Studia Politologiczne» is devoted to the issues of non-democratic tendencies occurring in the political systems of the states in Europe. The development of a democratic system does not have a linear character. Certain phenomena negatively affecting the functioning of liberal democracy can be observed. In this context the following should be enumerated: the dominant position of international corporations which are able to successfully influence governments, and even change them (vide: Italy and Greece in 2011); a growing position of the mass media, which not only create events and can make politicians popular but also make them fall (Berlusconi in Italy); the progressing oligarchization of political parties, where the program discussion disappears while the position of the leader and the “courts” centered around the leader grows; changes in real balance of forces between the legislative and the executive resulting from the ambitious politicians occupying the positions of prime minister and president and “jostling around”. This aim is also served by presenting politicians as a show in the media, particularly in 24-hour information channels (Sarkozy and Macron in France, Renzi in Italy). Another such phenomenon refers to changes in the electoral systems directed at making it easier for the ruling while more difficult for the political opposition to get the mandate.