In a context of increasingly complex and difficult policy challenges, serious questions are being raised about the effectiveness of governments. Recent work on the attributes of \u27good government\u27 has emphasized the importance of a capacity for learning. In a conception of \u27intelligent government\u27 based on Deweyan pragmatism, the capacities of experimentation, learning and inclusive, deliberative policy making are central. The relevance of Deweyan pragmatism to contemporary thinking about reform and improvement of policy making can be seen in Sabel\u27s conception of \u27democratic experimentalism\u27. This article discusses recent developments in government and policy making in Scotland, especially under the SNP administration, to assess the extent to which there are moves towards this pragmatic model, with a focus on recent changes in the relationship with local government and on modes of performance management, scrutiny and \u27regulation\u27
