General Introduction

First, we show that the IBE, founded in 1925, can be considered as a matrix of educational internationalism. It became the first intergovernmental institution in education in 1929, and under the aegis of Piaget, it developed a more and more resolutely universal and universalist ambition. This orientation of the IBE sets the point of view adopted for the analysis of its history. We then forge theoretical tools based on the ongoing debate on the universal in order to proceed to a critical sociogenesis of the IBE’s ambitions and achievements within its relational network and the educational context of the twentieth century and we formulate our research questions. We finally present the five parts which make up the book, each representing a particular point of view on the IBE’s history, written thanks to the rich archival heritage which is briefly described. A brief conclusion highlights some contradictions still present today which are then taken up in our general conclusion.