War and Peace ... and Evaluation

It is widely recognized that evaluation is inherently political. Broad political dimensions are present both in the socio-economic policy contexts of evaluation and in the methodological choices of evaluators. They are also more specifically present in the personal and organizational relationships forged and framed by evaluative activities. The character of these evaluative relationships communicates normative information about respect and reciprocity, and about voice and power. In democratizing approaches to evaluation, respectful, caring, and equitable relationships are promoted. This paper probes the nature of such respectful, caring, and equitable evaluation relationships, particularly within a world of increasing globalization.