Journal of Geographical Sciences >
The historical logics and geographical patterns of rural-urban governance in China
Ye Chao, PhD and Professor, specialized in urbanization and rural-urban governance, geographical thought and method, cultural geography and sustainability science. E-mail: yeover@163.com |
Received date: 2021-12-16
Accepted date: 2022-04-02
Online published: 2022-09-25
Supported by
Major Program of National Social Science Foundation of China(19ZDA086)
The advent of a mobile society has led to profound changes in China’s traditional rural-urban pattern and called for new strategies for urban and rural governance. Based on a macro perspective of temporal and spatial evolution, this study analyzes the historical logics of rural-urban governance, explores the geographical patterns of challenges in China’s rural-urban governance, and finally puts forward targeted strategies for rural-urban governance toward integrated and sustainable development in China. From the historical perspective, the urban originates from the rural, and the connotation of rural, that is, a regional-scale outlook, rural-urban relations, and sociocultural interaction, forms the traditional approach to rural-urban governance. China’s rural-urban governance has evolved from antagonism toward integration. In terms of theoretical development, the turn toward mobility is an important driving factor shaping and promoting the transformation of research focus on rural-urban governance. The mobility of urban and rural factors has especially in recent decades brought extensive challenges for governance, which are highlighted by the disintegration of the stability of rural and urban structures, growing regional disparities in rural education levels, and serious aging and hollowing crises in rural areas. We therefore propose that rural-urban governance should give sufficient consideration to the convergence of wider interests; realize social potential through institutional, cultural and spatial restructuring; and attach importance to collaborative development and governance. And the transfer of rural problems to urban areas should be paid attention to by rural-urban governance. This research enriches the knowledge regarding the logics and patterns of China’s rural-urban governance from an interdisciplinary perspective. It is also helpful in the promotion of rural-urban integration and sustainable development, especially at a time when the mobility of social factors between rural areas and urban areas increasingly challenges traditional urban and rural governance and drives its evolution.
YE Chao , PAN Jiawei , LIU Zhimin . The historical logics and geographical patterns of rural-urban governance in China[J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2022 , 32(7) : 1225 -1240 . DOI: 10.1007/s11442-022-1994-5
Figure 1 The evolution of the connotation of the “rural (乡村)” in Chinese culture |
Table 1 The historical evolution and characteristics of rural development and governance in China |
Rural-urban relations | Time | Governance characteristic |
---|---|---|
Antagonism | Before 771 B.C. | Separate governance of urban and rural areas |
Coordination | 771 B.C.-1840 | Collapse of urban and rural restrictions |
Segregation | 1840-1978 | Giving priority to urban areas |
Toward integration | After 1978 | Focusing more on rural areas |
Figure 2 Changes in urban and rural populations in China from 1953 to 2020Data source: Communique of the Seventh National Population Census |
Figure 3 Dynamics of the trajectories of migrant workers in China in 2011-2020Data source: Monitoring Report on Migrant Workers (2011-2020) |
Figure 4 Size of migrant workers absorbed by eastern, central and western regions of ChinaData source: Monitoring Report on Migrant Workers (2011-2020) |
Figure 5 Changes in average household size in China from 1953 to 2020Data source: Communique of the Seventh National Population Census |
Figure 6 Regional differences in education levels of rural China (2010-2018)Data source: China Rural Statistical Yearbook (2011-2019) |
Figure 7 Evolution of age structures in rural China (2010-2018)Data source: China Rural Statistical Yearbook (2011-2019) |
Figure 8 Annual average rate of changes of population and land in rural China from 2010 to 2019 (a) illiterate population rate; (b) demographic dependency ratio; (c) arable land per capita; (d) living space per capita.Data source: China Population and Employment Statistical Yearbook (2011, 2020); China’s National Land Use and Cover Change (CNLUCC). The base map is from the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, drawing review No.GS (2020) 4619. |
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