Political and administrative traditions and the French civil service
An analysis of the recruitment and selection procedures for administrative elites in France shows that there is little differentiation between them and social elites. Despite the introduction of unbiased and democratic selection procedures (the competitive exam), there are no real social differences between the two groups, although they are selected in different ways. Social elites came to understand, very early on, the importance of working in the service of the state though they have striven to perpetuate their position more as social rather than administrative elites. The barriers that they have placed in front of other levels of French Society have ensured that, within the administration graduates, hav