"Governing the Commons" is a concept introduced by Elinor Ostrom in her influential work, which explores how communities can manage shared resources, or "commons," effectively. It challenges the idea that common resources inevitably lead to overexploitation, proposing instead that local governance and collective action can lead to sustainable management. Ostrom identified key principles that successful communities use to govern their resources, such as clearly defined boundaries, collective decision-making, and effective monitoring. Her research emphasizes the importance of local knowledge and cooperation, demonstrating that communities can create rules that balance individual needs with the sustainability of shared resources.