A reflexive turn in urban governance

Abstract

This chapter introduces the concept of reflexive urban governance based on literature. We argue that urban governance, following its premises of collaboration, adaptivity, and inclusivity, would benefit from improved reflexivity on the values, norms, and practices behind or beneath urban policies, and the unwanted and unforeseen effects these may cause. Reflexivity is needed to constantly, constructively, and critically discuss the purpose and impact of these urban policies and actions and to adjust policy initiatives, goals, organisation, and governance approaches when deemed necessary. In this chapter, we conceptualise reflexivity and identify five potential triggers for reflexive urban governance: others, events, places, tools and methods, and attitudes. With the elaboration of these triggers, we intend to provide building blocks for a theory and practice of reflexive urban governance and to do justice to the complexity and fragmented realities in which policy programmes and urban governance come about.