دال سين, دال صاد

PhDs are overrated. Now that we got that out of the way, onto the main idea. In Kuwait, the way I see it, we have got only three "types" of PhDs. Academic, political, and social. These three may, or may not, cross paths; just as much as they are not mutually exclusive.

The most obvious, you would think (or perhaps would like to think), is the Academic PhD. Where x pursues his or her further education for the sole purpose of academia and interest in knowledge. That, to me, is bullshit. From what I have gathered, a PhD is only the first step - as opposed to contrary belief that it is 'the final step on the ladder of knowledge' - and you can only thrive through research which follows, as one example.

Let's face it, Kuwait University, even though financially capable, doesn't give two shits about research. You do not see PhDs at KU publishing many significant articles in related-field journals, now do you? Yes, I know that there are researches that have been done slash being done. And yes, I know that Kuwait University has its own press (or whatever). Yes, I do know you are probably being taught a certain course, and the textbook's author is a Kuwaiti. I also know that most of the researchers are not the Kuwaiti PhDs that are in Kuwait University - as you would guess - they are the, um, non-Kuwaitis.

Personally, I don't give a fuck about research, or adding something to the field. Infact, I think what I am studying right now to be stupid and worthless in that sense. The catch being, however, is that it is a pretty important step to push one's career. And yes, when I say career I mean, and only mean, salary.

The political motivation for a PhD, is ofcourse, to have the Daal infront of your name when you run for parliament. This is extremely evident with the Islamists (what they call themselves- not what they should call themselves). These political PhDs are very fond of Egypt and Jordan to name a couple of countries.

Personally, I don't blame them for taking that path; simply because of what I have mentioned above about how 'some' regard the PhD as the last step - as opposed to literally being the first. In other words, if this Daal infront of their names would earn them votes, good for them I say.

Then comes the social PhD. The pursuit for "Dr X came, Dr X went" (word-to-word translation). The difference between the social and political PhD is that the social PhD does share some of the interest in the academic field. However not to the extent to be labelled an academic. My unscientific and un-based-on-any-statistics prediction suggests that each 4 out of 10 social PhDs have a 70% chance of switching teams to the political PhD team later on in life.

Now, the reason why I am writing this is because I have had a number of discussions with a number of friends. Some who are prospective MA+PhD students with Kuwait University, and some who have already started.

All of them fall into the Academic Team. 'What do they know', I tell myself.

The way I see it, spending 2 - 5 years doing a PhD (when you know you are coming back to Kuwait) can only be plausible - in my opinion - if two out of the following reasonings are met:

a- PhDs do not report to anyone. They do not have bosses. They have colleagues who may be heads of department. Heads of department can go fuck themselves. They are not bosses.

b- PhDs never experience routine. While what is taught may become repetitive with time (days, semester or years), the sections will always change. This is good for two reasons: smoking hot chicks first, and keeping up-to-date with what the at-the-time-students are into. Both reasons are just for fun. Point being, there isn't really much routine to scare away from.

c- PhDs earn, in some cases, more than members of parliament in salary. Repeat, in salary.

d- PhDs, whether they know it or not, will always be just-that-bit-much more respected by everyone for the Daal.

Stuff like that.

Point being, the only valid reason for doing a PhD in our day and time (again, knowing that you are going back to Kuwait) is to join the Social Team.

Economically, it depends on how you look at it. The calculation of the opportunity cost of staying and doing something else is a whole different issue which I prefer not "knocking its door" (word-to-word translation).