“Elite Schools” and French Politics (1945-2021)

Abstract

The core values of the French society comprise of liberty, democracy and equality. However, there seems to be limitation and social inequality when it comes to be "elite training schools". These privileged training and selection systems of French civil service seem to be a unique French practice. The elite training schools, especially L'Ecoles Nationale d' Administration, represents inequality in French society and, therefore, presents a problem for French politics. This study analyzes (1) the relationship between French elite training schools and French state; and (2) the important of the ENA for French politics. The result of this research shows an important of the ENA for the French political and private sectors which complicates any attempt to reform it.