Geopolitical economy of elite formation the International Baccalaureate, Executive MBA, and France’s strategic convergence

This article analyzes France’s strategic convergence with the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Executive MBA (EMBA) as a state-directed project of ‘educational combined development’ aimed at enhancing national competitiveness. Through a multi-sited case study and corpus analysis, and drawing on geopolitical economy and social reproduction theories, we demonstrate how these programs act as bookends in a transnational elite lifecycle. Contrasted with Russia’s ban of the IB, this project is a geopolitical choice that co-opts global education models. Ultimately, these strategic orientations exacerbate domestic inequality and undermine Republican ideals under a progressive neoliberal veneer.