Wizerunek przywódcy w systemie totalitarnym, autorytarnym i demokratycznym. Analiza porównawcza

This article focuses on the relations between an image of a political leader and a type of a political system. The models of a political system were used to compare determinants and factors which have an influence on the process of image creation. This theoretical proposal is aimed at a description of the main social and political conditions of the image elements and political system's identity. The function of a leader's image for stability and development of the political system is different for each analysed political system, i.e. totalitarian, authoritarian and democratic systems. In the totalitarian system, the image of a political leader is a kind of communication tool for maintenance of the permanent social mobilization. In the authoritarian system, the process of the image creation allows a political leader to hold control over selected areas of social life. Finally, in the democratic system, a political leader uses his image to enter political and electoral market and establish stable position on them.