The Practical Dilemma and Relief Countermeasures of The New Country Sages Participating in Rural Governance

Abstract

Rural governance is crucial in the strategy of rural revitalization. While significant progress has been made, challenges persist. Diversified stakeholders pose a key factor affecting effective governance. The emergence of the new country sages group offers a valuable solution to address rural governance difficulties. This study examines their participation in rural governance, aiming to attract their engagement based on local conditions. Research was conducted in rural Sichuan province, utilizing literature review, interviews, and snowball sampling to gather 77 valid data points. Findings indicate that new country sages have diverse backgrounds and a strong willingness to participate, contributing to rural self-governance, rule of law, and virtue. However, their impact is limited in most areas, encountering challenges such as weak interaction with the government, uneven quality of new villagers, and low levels of cooperation. To overcome these obstacles, this study suggests countermeasures including system construction, rural civilization development, and improved supervision and management mechanisms.