Beyond Common Ground : How Everyday Places Solve Big Social Challenges

What if society could move past traditional "gray infrastructure" approaches—like seawalls and prisons—to address problems such as climate change, terrorism, and crime? In Beyond Common Ground, Daniel P. Aldrich argues that social infrastructure—physical and virtual spaces including parks, libraries, and radio programs—offer a more effective alternative by fostering coproduction and multiple benefits. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative evidence from nine countries across Africa, Asia, and North America, this book demonstrates how these systems build social capital and resilience—and proposes practical policies for implementation. Case studies show that facilities in Japan, such as the elder-led Ibasho center, reduced mortality during the 2011 tsunami and accelerated recovery. Greening initiatives in Philadelphia mitigated crime, while radio countered extremist recruitment in the Sahel. Beyond Common Ground positions social infrastructure as a "polysolution" for our interconnected crises, urging society to stop treating it as a Cinderella service and prioritize equitable distribution.