Articles

L'institutionnalisation de l'évaluation des politiques publiques en Belgique : entre balbutiements et incantations

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Abstract

Since a few decades, policy evaluation is a main topic in Western democracies. lt identifies, measures and appreciates effects, outcomes and impacts of a policy. Yet, there is not a common way to institutionalise that policy instrument; one can observe many differences in terms of its intensity and maturity, as well as a diversity of institutional device. Compared to other countries, Belgium is characterized by a low visibility and weak decisional impact of evaluation. Public demand for enlightening state action rarely takes the form of a demand for evaluation. The word 'Evaluation' is frequently pronounced, but most often in a political sense.
In this article three types of arguments can be put forward to explain this Jack of evaluation: a lacking commitment of Parliament and political staff, the fragmentation and weak autonomy of the civil service and the domination of political parties upon the Belgian political and administrative system.

How to Cite:

Jacob, S., (2004) “L'institutionnalisation de l'évaluation des politiques publiques en Belgique : entre balbutiements et incantations”, Res Publica 46(4), 512-534. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/rp.v46i4.18415