Democracy becomes more real where its protections, benefits and opportunities are available at one’s doorstep-and not when accessing these benefits is excessively costly or time-consuming ………………………………………………………………………………… There is a need to empower lower-level links in the chain of governance and to bring decision-making closer to ordinary people. They should be able to achieve more by themselves, becoming less dependent upon distant representatives and unaccountable mediators.