Abstract

Based on field research conducted mainly in French diplomatic archives, this paper traces the history over the centuries of Istanbul’s Galatasaray Lycée, which today is part of an integrated education system including a primary school and university and, as in the past, its task is to form the nation’s élites. Possessing the features of a cooperation project historically rooted between worlds that clash ideologically, politically and economically, it has undoubtedly stood the test of time thanks to the strength of the network it has created, and which has helped it through various periods of tension.