Paper short abstract:

This paper reflects on methods for and challenges of evaluating a participation in epistemo-political practices of a German umbrella organisation. It engaged skilfully into a variety of epistemic cultures, differing from each other in their daily practices of how they know and do democracy.

Paper long abstract:

This paper reflects on methods for evaluating the participation of epistemo-political practices of a German umbrella organisation for migrant special interest organisations at an opening event of this organisation in 2017. By speaking skilfully into a variety of epistemic cultures, differing from each other in their daily practices of how they know and do democracy, multiple participations happened. These participations are theoretically framed as specific for the situation and relational. However, this form of participation in epistemo-political practices, which is typical for this organisation, cannot sufficiently be addressed in standard project evaluation tools. Now, in collaboration with the umbrella organisation, an evaluation tool has been designed that includes an assessment of how to engage in different knowings and doings of democracy. This paper elaborates on the epistemo-political practices and addresses challenges in designing an evaluation tool that includes this form of participation.