Organizing adaptation: How can irony serve experimental modes of governance for sustainable urban living?

This paper explores how a political ironic attitude can strengthen experimental modes of governance. It was written for the master course ‘Core themes in public administration’ at the University of Utrecht. Political irony as coined by Jessop (2003) emphasizes administrators’ capacity to adapt means and modes of governance through reflexivity, learning and intervening. As such, it holds specific potential for public administrators seeking to align policies within the broader interests of networks outside their administration. The paper explores the ironic attitude among participants in two projects located in the city of Amsterdam, both aimed to improve sustainable urban living. Findings suggest that it is especially through reflexivity, that participants come to adapt their mode of governance.