Abstract:
Neo-endogenous development theory, as the mainstream theory of European rural development at the present stage, emphasizes the organic integration of internal units and external units, which helps to address the development dilemmas arising from the absence of endogenous subjects in the process of rural construction. Based on field research in Z Village, Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province, this study finds that Z Village exhibits the social governance effect of ‘four-body co-construction, co-governance and sharing' in the process of traditional material space construction: 1) Taking rural construction as an opportunity, Z Village established a ‘Rich Village Company' as a dialogue platform to integrate villagers' land resources internally and introduce government resources and corporate capital externally, forming a ‘four-body co-construction' rural construction model involving the government, enterprises, collectives, and villagers. 2) ‘Four-body co-construction' effectively promotes the implementation of key industrial projects, revitalizes the rural collective economy, and enables the sustained supply of rural public goods. 3) In the process of rural construction, Z Village cultivates the participation awareness of rural grassroots subjects, contributing to the formation of a normalized governance system of ‘co-governance and sharing'. The study argues that under the guidance of neo-endogenous development theory, the governance effects in the rural construction process should be further explored to promote sustainable rural development.