Institutions as double agents: programming discourses and modal adjustments

The article “Institutions as Double Agents: Programming Discourses and Modal Adjustments” explores how institutions manage the duality of explicit programming and implicit adaptability in their communication strategies. Drawing on Paolo Fabbri’s concept of “double agents,” it examines the tension between institutional mandates and the necessary flexibility required for their implementation. The study highlights the inherent paradoxes of programming discourses, which oscillate between control and empowerment, rigid protocols and adaptive practices. By analyzing various discursive forms, it underscores the need for institutions to navigate modal asymmetries, reconcile normative frameworks with local contingencies, and sustain their relevance in complex social contexts.