ABSTRACT
This chapter lays clear citizens’ visions of how to govern themselves and it discusses the matter of citizens’ political competencies. In the first part, it summarizes empirical findings on what citizens consider as crucial for democracy, which practices and procedures they prefer and whom they consider as best decision-makers. The findings lead to the second section of this chapter, which covers citizens’ competencies to govern themselves. The second section demystifies the meaning of the term ‘competencies’; it discusses the competencies necessary in Thriving Democracies; and finally, it puts empirical flesh on Pateman’s (1970) bold statement that citizens learn everything they need know for participation via participation.
