SOCIAL-PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE FORMATION OF THE SOCIAL STATUS AND PROFESSIONAL PRESTIGE OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICERS

This article examines the social-philosophical foundations of the social status and professional prestige of internal affairs officers. Professional status is interpreted as an integrated form of institutional and social recognition combining legal authority, competence, moral responsibility, social protection, occupational identity, and public trust. The study analyzes the views of Uzbek scholars R. Kh. Dushanov and Yo. A. Farfiyev and compares Tom R. Tyler’s legitimacy-centered approach with Egon Bittner’s functional theory of police authority. Using interdisciplinary methods, the article develops a five-component model of sustainable professional prestige: lawful status, advanced competence, value-based professional identity, meaningful social protection, and trust-generating public communication. The findings show that professional prestige i