Public drama plays a role in the scientific enterprise. As an experiment, I applied this principle several lessons that I learned from rural political meetings in Mexico to my own promotion ceremony. In line with the findings of my PhD thesis, I ‘performed success’ at the event of its defense in 2004.

I performed success in different (unusual) ways: by giving a political speech to my audience, distributing drinks and food and cultivating a sense of community, also asking them to applaud for and honour the scientific authorities when they passed on their ritual procession to the podium, while Mexican music contributed to the festive atmosphere, which was all recorded and broadcasted live by audiovisual means. The event was a ‘great success’, because I received my doctoral degree.

Soon afterwards, the promotion regulations were adjusted, to avoid future desacralization. This illustrated the limitations of policy transfer from one to another cultural setting.