Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme: Political Corruption of Russian Doctorates

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of doctorates for sale in the Russian Federation. It uses an example of the Russian political establishment to project on the issue of corruption in conferring doctorates and searches to answer the questions: Why do politicians buy doctorates? and Is it possible to stop such a practice and how? This paper derives the definition of corruption in conferral of doctoral degrees to elected politicians and other public officials. It assembles and analyzes a database of doctoral degrees, academic ranks, memberships in the academies, and awards, decorations, and titles, held by the members of the Council of Federation and the State Duma. In theory, doctorates are needed to pursue scholarship and research. Thus, knowledge is the best criterion of the genuine doctorate and professorship along with research achievements is a best usage of doctorates. In practice, however, doctorates offer their holders some indirect or intangible benefits, among which are public recognition and respect. These benefits can then be transformed into direct and tangible benefits through different means, including the electoral process. Accordingly, it may be the case that politicians abuse the existing system of conferring doctorates in order to improve their image and use status-signs in a highly ceremonial society of modern Russia.