Governing the Social Commons

Ben Peterson explores the erosion of communal self-governance in contemporary American society and its consequences: rising social disorder and increased dependence on formal institutions such as policing and incarceration.Drawing on thinkers such as Elinor and Vincent Ostrom, Russell Kirk, Glenn C. Loury, and James Q. Wilson, Peterson investigates the concept of the “social commons”—the shared moral and relational space we inhabit and shape through norms and actions. Arguing that restoring the social commons requires informal mechanisms of governance that cultivate virtue and mutual accountability, Peterson critiques both abolitionist and punitive paradigms, advocating instead for a middle path rooted in a character-centered approach to community life. He highlights the unique role of religious communities—especially Christian congregations—as vital sanctuaries of moral order capable of renewing the social fabric and offering hope amid chaos.