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 UrbanRural 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 states 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.

Mingrui Shen received his Ph.D. in Geography from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2016; after that, he joined the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Nanjing University. His research interests focus on the urbanization of China from the perspective of the urbanrural relationship. In particular, his works explore three themes: transformation and governance in rural China, rural-to-urban migration in China, and coordinated urban-rural development. Dr. Shen is the winner of the Urban China Research Networks Best Paper Prize (2015) and the Urban Planning Society of Chinas Youth Paper Award (2011). His publications can be found in both English-language and Chinese-language journals, including Urban Studies, Land Use Policy, and China City Planning Review.