ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes the development of peer evaluation systems. It examines the relationship between the evaluation community and the policy community. The book discusses whether there is a dualistic relation between power and truth, arguing that there are many truths and powers both in evaluation and policy practice. It illustrates evaluation's role in political and administrative games, and also exposes the gap between the role that evaluators assume evaluation will play and its actual role. The book also describes situations where the capacity to speak truth is hindered by the institutional and political context. It highlights the expansion of different forms of peer evaluation. The concept of peer evaluation has broadened due to the involvement of more stakeholders the in process with different interest and priorities.
