Governing with Evidence. Councils, Advisory Systems, and Evaluation

How much independence does scientific policy advice need – and how much can it afford? When does evidence become a political argument, and when does expertise remain without consequence? This special issue brings together contributions from Austria, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, South Africa and the EU that get to the bottom of these questions – historically, institutionally and systemically. At its centre are advisory councils and evaluation systems: their origins, their evolution, and their often contradictory roles at the interface of science and politics. The findings are as sobering as they are illuminating: neither maximum autonomy nor close alignment with the political process guarantees impact. What remains is the need to continuously recalibrate this balance – and that is precisely what this issue sets out to explore.