New Rural Community Construction or Retention Development: A Comparative Analysis of Rural Settlement Transition Mechanism in Plain Agriculture Area of China Based on Actor Network Theory

• Published in: Chinese geographical science Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 436 - 452
• Main Authors: Qu, Yanbo, Dong, Xiaozhen, Ma, Wenqiu, Zhao, Weiying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Science Press 01.06.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Actor-network theory; Comparative analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Geography; Retention; Rural areas; Sustainable development; China; rural settlement transition (RST); actor network theory (ANT); transition path; transition mechanism; plain area; China
• ISSN: 1002-0063; 1993-064X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11769-024-1430-0

It is an important way to realize rural revitalization and sustainable development to guide rural settlement transition (RST) in an appropriate way. This paper uses actor network theory (ANT) to construct a theoretical framework for the study of RST. Taking two typical villages with different transition paths in rural areas of North China Plain as examples, this paper reveals the mechanism of RST and makes a comparative analysis. The results show that: 1) after identifying problems and obligatory passage point, key actors recruit heterogeneous actors into the actor network by entrusting them with common interests, and realize RST under the system operation. 2) Rural settlements under different transition paths have similarities in the problems to be solved, collective actions and policy factors, but there are differences in the transition process, mechanism and effect. The actor network and mechanism of RST through the path of new rural community construction are more complex and the transition effect is more thorough. In contrast, the degree of RST of retention development path is limited if there is no resource and location advantage. 3) Based on the applicable conditions of different paths, this paper designs a logical framework of ‘Situation-Structure-Behavior-Result’ to scientifically guide the identification of RST paths under the background of rural revitalization.