UPD409: Fostering a ‘New Rural Community’ in the Context of Rural Revitalization - A Case Study of Rural Villages in Suzhou

Activity: SupervisionMaster Dissertation Supervision

Description

在乡村振兴的背景下培育“新乡村共同体”——以苏州乡村为例

Abstract
This research explores the development of an innovative theoretical framework for fostering a “New Rural Community” in Suzhou within the context of China's Rural Revitalization Strategy. Through a methodologically rigorous approach combining systematic literature review and empirical case studies, the study identifies three fundamental transitions necessary for successful rural community development: from “top-down governance” to “collaborative governance”, from “urban-rural duality” to “urban-rural integration”, and from “instrumental rationality” to “moral guidance”. Drawing upon semi-structured interviews with 27 stakeholders across two villages in Suzhou (Kaixiangong Village and Linghu Village), the research reveals that effective rural community development requires attention to “governance granularity”, necessitates intermediary organizations capable of “creative mediation”, and demands the modernization of traditional moral-cultural mechanisms. The findings contribute to both theoretical discourse and practical implementation by introducing the concept of multi-scalar governance, extending theories of intermediary organizations, and demonstrating innovative approaches to moral reconstruction in rural communities. This study not only advances the understanding of rural community development but also provides a dynamic theoretical framework that can be enriched through future case studies to serve as a comprehensive reference model for Chinese villages pursuing rural revitalization objectives.
Keywords: New Rural Community; Rural Revitalization; Collaborative Governance; Urban-rural Integration; Moral Guidance; Suzhou

摘要
本研究探索了在中国乡村振兴战略背景下,在苏州培育"新型乡村共同体"的创新性理论框架。通过系统文献综述和实证案例研究相结合的研究方法,本研究确定了培育“新乡村共同体”所需的三个基本转型:从自上而下治理向协同治理转变,从城乡二元向城乡融合转变,以及从工具理性向道德引导转变。基于对苏州两个村庄(开弦弓村和灵湖村)27位利益相关者的半结构化访谈,研究发现有效的乡村共同体发展需要关注"治理粒度",需要具备"创造性中介"能力的中介组织,并要求传统道德文化机制的现代化转型。研究成果在理论话语和实践应用两个层面做出贡献:提出了多尺度治理的概念,拓展了中介组织理论,并展示了乡村道德重构的创新路径。本研究不仅推进了对新乡村共同体发展的理解,还提供了一个动态的理论框架,该框架可通过未来的案例研究不断丰富,最终成为中国村庄实现乡村振兴目标的综合参考模型。
关键词:新型乡村共同体;乡村振兴;协同治理;城乡融合;道德引导;苏州
Period25 Jan 2025
Degree of RecognitionInternational

Keywords

  • New Rural Community
  • Rural revitalization
  • Collaborative governance
  • Urban-rural Integration
  • Moral Guidance
  • Suzhou