This book seeks to unravel the changes in rural governance sparked by
state-led programs, evaluate the programs' implementation, and refine
the interpretation of governance theory with new empirical material from
rural China. When it comes to rural issues in contemporary China, there
is no shortage of national strategies: from "Coordinating Urban-Rural
Development" in 2003 to "Rural Revitalization" in 2017, the rejuvenation
of the countryside has attracted unprecedented policy interest. At the
same time, rural governance has been subject to significant political,
social and economic changes. However, comparatively little research has
been conducted on the phenomenal reconnection between the state and
rural society, and our previous understanding of rural governance is no
longer adequate.
As a result of the programs, a new model of governance is now emerging
in rural China. The programs have accelerated the formation of
state-private-farmer partnerships, while also promoting the
participation of grassroots society in rural reconstruction. In the
initial stage, the state's role is important to securing
non-governmental sectors' engagement. However, this does not mean that
the model guarantees sustainable governance: in terms of land tenure
reform, infrastructure investment, and subsidies, the programs merely
empower farmers and other stakeholders to engage in rural
reconstruction. The success of these reconstruction efforts ultimately
depends on a suitable pricing mechanism for public goods provision, as
well as the self-organization of grassroots society.
