ABSTRACT
In European comparative terms, France’s history in the evaluation domain is relatively short. Evaluation practice subsequently grew considerably in a context of continuous controversy between different conceptions and of increasing stimulus provided both by the European Union and the process of devolution to regional authorities. A typical and enduring controversy opposes “managerial” evaluation to “democratic” evaluation. The chapter presents three French “paradoxes.” One paradox is that—in a meta-evaluation perspective—and reviews Conseil Scientifique de l’Evaluation’s (CSE) experience, using its case studies and demonstrating how criteria were built and used to assess the quality of a small number of evaluation studies, the piloting of which was under its supervision—at central state level. The second paradox is that, because it is demand-led, the market for evaluation keeps expanding in France. The third paradox pertains to CSE’s rigorous approach to methods and its innovative work.
