Polycentric order: the decentralist cure for Catholics?

[StudentMI]

I’ve been reading lately on decentralized political systems, always with an eye to subsidiarity. And I came across the work of an economist named Elinor Ostrom.

Elinor Ostrom - Wikipedia

In the book Pope Francis and the Caring Society, linked below, one author goes into an extended discussion of Ostrom’s work as regards environmental regulation.

This got me thinking, is perhaps a polycentric order the best solution to the problem of today’s world as viewed through Catholic eyes?

Such a solution, a decentralized world of law and order and regulation, wouldn’t be a 100% solution to the problem of abortion, same sex marriage and other things. But is it perhaps the best we can do?

Such a polycentric order would allow for various, localized and decentralized systems, some of which would undoubtedly allow for abortion and other social evils. But in our own communities we could work and strive to be the best we can be, always with an eye to the common good, and perhaps through our success influence other such orders.

The old order of highly centralized states and capital is reaching a crisis point. It is already irrelevant if looked at through the eyes of currently existing technology and the capability of people to run their own lives without the interference of the state or corporate order. We can regulate, invest and coordinate by ourselves if we only choose to do so.

A cultural and legal order is only a stone’s throw away. What we lack is the initiative to accomplish it. Lest we forget, Peter Maurin long ago spoke of a Green Revolution. Before anyone is scared away by the term, I urge you to look up what he meant by it. We have the political clout to accomplish great deeds, great revolutions if you will. We must first overcome the bigotries and biases we have within us to accomplish it. And then it’s ours for the taking.

There is a scene in a movie, I forget the name. A group of farmers who are protesting the feudal landlord’s exploitation are faced by a squad of armed men on horseback. As opposed to engaging in violence, they simply lay down, covering the road. We can accomplish this in such a way, without violence.

Thoughts?

 

[Adamek]

There is a scene in a movie, I forget the name. A group of farmers who are protesting the feudal landlord’s exploitation are faced by a squad of armed men on horseback. As opposed to engaging in violence, they simply lay down , covering the road. We can accomplish this in such a way, without violence.

One comment at a time.
First, the concept of “the road” has a new meaning now. The electronic superhighway, as the fledgling internet used to be called, is controlled by digital horsemen who are beyond our reach. The road is virtual and no one knows where it leads.

The “we” in your comment no longer exist either. We have been “processed” by the economic systems into a consumerist pulp. You could no longer find another individual with whom you could agree on virtually anything of substance. (other than preference for beer or football team)

 

[Adamek]

capability of people to run their own lives without the interference of the state or corporate order.

This seems like a rather dangerous illusion. People have lost the ability to run their own lives long ago. It may be the case that the power to regulate everything is slipping from the hands of governments, but it is firmly in the grasp of multinational corporations, oligarchs and supranational bureaucracies.