The Educational Trajectories of the Russian Elite: a Regional Projection

This article analyses the educational trajectories of members of regional elites in contemporary Russia to determine the specifics of education and its role in the process of elite reproduction. It is based on an empirical study of 635 structured biographies of the political and administrative elite of St. Petersburg, Leningradskaya, Rostovskaya, Kaliningradskaya, Kostromskaya, Khabarovskii regions conducted 2011-2016. The findings reveal a gradual movement away from the "technocratic" educational profile of regional elites towards graduates with economic and juristic profiles. Members of the elite often possess several higher education qualifications and/or an doctorate. The study also reveals regional variation in the share of securocrats: in particular, the incidence of military education increases with rank in the power vertical. Importantly, the study casts doubts on the existence of a pool of elite universities involved in elite reproduction. The findings have important implications for regional analysis and the policies of elite recruitment in regions.