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Village Reconstruction in Rural China: The Importance of Being Urban

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 March 2019

Saul Wilson  and
Xiaorong Zhang
Saul Wilson
Affiliation:
Harvard University. Email: skwilson1@g.harvard.edu.
Xiaorong Zhang*
Affiliation:
Renmin University of China
*
Email: xrzhang@ruc.edu.cn (corresponding author).
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Abstract

Using examples from village reconstruction programmes in rural China, we show that local cadres often prioritize project visibility over publicized policy goals. While central policies and the academic literature emphasized land reclamation or rural welfare, local cadres – and the projects they designed – tended instead to focus on projecting an image of urban, wealthy villagers. Where such image-driven behaviour is most deleterious to villagers, it can evince opposition. We observe that some areas avoid conflict by making these projects voluntary or adjusting projects to local conditions. However, we provide a case study of a village with strong village leadership, showing that contrary to recent claims that village cadres are increasingly impotent, some maintain the authority to override widespread objections from villagers.

摘要

本文对中国农村的旧村改造项目进行了案例研究。研究发现,在实施旧村改造项目前，村干部更多的是考虑项目实施的可行性，而非项目的最终效果；项目实施过程中，村干部及项目设计目标倾向于突出城市化的小康农民形象，而非政策及学术所强调的土地复垦或农村福利。以这种动机实施项目将不利于村民，并且会引起村民的反对，因而村干部通过村民自主选择或调整项目的方式避免这类冲突。本文采用村干部领导力较强的村庄案例，得出与上述村干部行为相反的结果，即在村民持反对意见的情况下村干部使用其权力来实施旧村改造项目。

Keywords

village reconstructionrural politicsvillage cadre powerimage building旧村改造农村治理村干部权利面子工程
Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 238 , June 2019 , pp. 438 - 460
Copyright
Copyright © SOAS University of London 2019 

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