Symbiotic Order:Ecology And Means Of Rural Governance In Contemporary China

Based on the question "how sound rural governance is possible",this paper constructs the "governance ecology" theory,analyses the ecological imbalance of rural governance and its structure reasons and discusses the possible means of sound rural governance with the study of the history of ecological development and change of Chinese rural governance."Governance ecology" theory is the basic tool this paper employs to analyze and construct the means of ecology and rural governance.Governance refers to the relationship between the governance bodies and the relationship between the governance body and the governance environment in certain ecological governance space.The basic contents are as follows:First,governance is a systematic project and an interrelated organic whole composed by diverse governance body,diverse governance environment and other elements in a certain space.The substance,energy and information exchange and liquidity exist between the governance bodies and the governance bodies and governance environment.The state of the governance bodies and governance environment is the result of effects of various elements of governance.The process of governance is also the process of pluralistic body nurturing and diverse environment development.Second,the different bodies in governance space occupies different "governance niche" for they have different resources,roles and functions.Governance niche is relative,dynamic,and different bodies of governance niche constitutes division of labor,the basis of mutual coexistence.Third,the relationship between the governance bodies and governance environment in certain governance space is mutual symbiosis,including mutual institutions,mutual bodies and mutual environment.Symbiosis develops in the way of"point symbiosis→intermittent symbiosis→continuous symbiosis→organic symbiosis"and in the logic of "parasitism→partial interest symbiosis→asymmetric symbiosis→symmetric symbiosis".Fourth,sound governance ecology lies in the harmony of governance bodies and its environment.Fifth,rural governance space is the rural communities made by multiple bodies and diverse environment.The process of rural governance is the process of constructing rural community.In China it can be seen that the rural community is a practice field with the presence of the government,society,market and individual.With rural community,the bodies’ needs can be met,the environment is to develop,subjectivity is to grow,public order is formed,individuals is to develop.Based on "governance ecology" theory,this paper examines historical changes of Chinese rural governance ecology from rural endogenous and exogenous orders,finding that the Chinese rural governance develops in the way of "inside governance→outside governance→mutual governance" and the relationship between man and nature is "to fear→to conquer→to be in harmony".The present problems of rural governance in China are as follows:first,the loss of traditional order,the lack of social organization,the loss of cultural and psychological structure,the function vacancy of township government,the function vacancy of village government,and the lack of corporate bodies.These difficulties led to the "hollowing out" trend of rural social organization and governance orders.Second,the direct administration between the state government and the farmers makes the increased heterogeneity between the central government and local governments.The local governments pursues "no trouble" and "window" logics for its survival,resulting in government "suspension".Third,the function vacancy of township government,the function vacancy of village government,and the lack of corporate bodies are to be the trend.Fourth,the rural culture,psychology,values and ethics are influenced greatly by market-oriented development.This makes personal interests,business-oriented brokerage become a trend of "all for interest".These four trends makes the rural society a "hollowing out" state.The reasons for this state lie in the following two aspects:the relationship imbalances between state and society at a macro level and the virtual government structure on the micro.This paper holds that a sound rural governance can be achieved by means construction from the macro,meso and micro levels:From a macro view,a sound rural governance is to achieve ecological harmonious development between man and nature.A harmonious development between the governance bodies and governance environment shall be one of the means.From a meso view,a good governance ecology lies in the harmony between governance bodies.A new means of rural governance shall be with the participation and collaboration of state,society,market and individuals.It shall be multi-agent,complementary and mutual symbiotic.From a micro perspective,the ecology of sound rural governance lies in the active and orderly action of rural actors.A system of active participation in rural governance shall be established by constructions of democracy.Based on these three means,three concepts of rural governance shall be established at the present:1)to promote space management and construct beautiful and environmental countryside;2)to cultivate the governance bodies of strong government,strong community,strong market,strong citizens;3)to establish "micro-management" in micro-structure,micro-mechanism,micro-projects and micro-participation.