{"product_id":"community-character-and-the-governance-ben-peterson-9781666960648","title":"Community, Character, and the Governance of the Social Commons: Sanctuaries of Order","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBen 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.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrawing 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.\u003cbr\u003eListen to the author discuss the book with Dr. Glenn Loury on the Glenn Show here: https: \/\/tinyurl.com\/3534j8xh.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Ben Peterson\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1666960640\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781666960648\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Bloomsbury Academic\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/23\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 240\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.00d","brand":"Ben Peterson","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48801229177087,"sku":"9781666960648","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/community-character-and-the-governance-ben-peterson-9781666960648","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}