The articles of leading researchers of political elites from Russia, the United States and the European Union, included in the book, demonstrate the diversity of storylines, but at the same time are united by a common thematic “framework”. The authors consider not only the structural and functional changes that the elites undergo as the ultimate drivers of social change in the context of the transformation of society, but also those challenges (including metaphysical ones) that power groups face. Various country cases are analyzed: in the field of research attention are both countries of the post-Soviet (and wider post-communist) space, claiming the title of “young democracies”, and states traditionally referred to as “old” democracies. Special attention is paid to the Baltic States. The publication is addressed to specialists in the field of theories of elites, international relations, political scientists and sociologists - researchers, teachers, graduate students and students of universities .