What is a word for "experts' self-serving practice"?

The word entrenchment or its variations come to mind (from the OED):

Entrenched - adjective (of attitudes, idea, etc.,) firmly established and not easily modified.

Entrenchment - noun entrenching; being entrenched.

As in,

The group's research was intended to entrench its current position instead of offer new data to the field.

It makes me think of a person or group fortifying themselves against change, similar to when a person "digs in their heels" and won't budge on an issue.

A similar phrase that could send you down the right path might be "maintaining the status quo," which can connote a resistance to change or growth.

As for a neologism, something like anti-progressivism comes to mind, although "Progressivism" also refers to the political movement.

A great two-word phrase I have heard lately is "epistemic closure", where the people in the circle have decided that there is nothing to learn from those outside it. But I'm not sure that quite fits your need.

Priestcraft is commonly seen for this, by analogy, particularly when done by preventing the spread of knowledge, obfuscation or the creation of mystery.

Wiktionary has this excellent example:

Horace (Horatio) Smith, Address to a Mummy:

Perhaps thou wert a priest,--if so, my struggles
Are vain, for priestcraft never owns its juggles.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/priestcraft

According to Websters 1913 dirctionary: http://www.answers.com/topic/priestcraft-3

Priestly policy; the policy of a priesthood; esp., in an ill sense, fraud or imposition in religious concerns; management by priests to gain wealth and power by working upon the religious motives or credulity of others

Priestcraft as a generic term for expert's practice:

http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/money-in-the-1920s-and-1930s/

One of the most enduring and troublesome mysteries in economics is money: how it is created, what sorts of institutions initiate the process, what kinds of mystique and priestcraft central bankers use in managing monetary systems, and what rules, laws, or customs limit their actions.

Less generic, but showing the analogy:

http://www.compleatmother.com/articles3/rogue.htm

Working class radicals rallied to the cause, linking “King-craft, Priest-craft, Lawyer-craft and Doctor-craft” as the four great evils of the time.

Wordnik has numerous examples, mostly referring to priests. http://www.wordnik.com/words/priestcraft

énarque (plural énarques): A graduate of the École nationale d'administration.

So, how about énarquism, referring to the persisting of authority by those in authority.