95

"A study of three cohorts of ENA alumni has shed light changes that have occurred in the sociological profile of administrative elites in France between the 1970s and the 2010s. French senior civil servants in the 2000s are increasingly trained in economics and management. Although they pursue a wider range of careers than in the past, the particular branch (‘corps’) of the civil service they choose still plays a key role in determining their career path, especially when they move between the public and private sectors. Belonging to a top corps of the senior civil service (‘grands corps’) is still a crucial pre-requisite for professional success. The cultural conversion to management standards has strengthened rather than eroded the social structures underpinning their careers."