What does the Capability Approach think about participation What does this mean for every level of policy What are the

2. What does the Capability Approach think about participation? What does this mean for every level of policy? What are the main characteristics of good participation from a capability perspective? Questions asked by the organisers of the conferenceQuestions asked by the organisers of the conference

3. What does the Capability Approach think about participation? Not much! The Capability Approach is an approach to the analysis of individual well-being.

4. Central to the CA is the idea of enabling people to lead a life they value and have reason to value (Sen 1999: 74) “Capability is thus a kind of freedom: the substantive freedom to achieve alternative functioning combinations” (Sen 1999a: 75, 74)

5. Being free to choose a way of living is constitutive to individual well-being. more than one option (opportunity aspect) choosing (process aspect)

6. Capability Approach and participation? Participation is about a group of people jointly taking decisions on their life. The CA views persons as individuals who are capable of participation, but it doesn‘t explicate how participation works since the focus is on individuals.

7. “Participation” in the CA “The ability of people to participate in social decisions has been seen … as a valuable characteristic of a good society.”(Drèze/Sen 2002: 9) “To have ... a fixed list, emanating entirely from pure theory, is to deny the possibility of fruitful public participation on what should be included and why” (Sen 2004: 77).

8. What does this mean for every level of policy? No general rule. Context-specific The evaluative point of view:Does the policy enhance the individual’s well-being in terms of her capabilities? No real answer to this question!No real answer to this question!

9. What are the main characteristics of good participation from a capability perspective? Respect for the individual‘s right to choose a life she values and has reason to value. Good participation enhances the individuals‘ capabilities.

10. Criteria for good participation?! – Who and how? Sen: open impartiality impartial spectator of Adam Smith public reasoning critical scrutiny

11. Criteria for good participation?! – Who and how? Nussbaum: cultivating humanity democratic citizens: critical self-examination (Socrates) “citizens of the world“ (Diogenes) narrative imagination

12. Put yourself into someone else‘s shoes! Thanks!