Elite Structure And The Evolution Of The Form Of Rural Governance

Facing the vast agricultural society,the rule of traditional China relies heavily on the rural elites headed by gentlemen and the rural elite structure composed of them,thus forming the form of "informal agency".However,while the academic circles constantly interpret the reasons for this phenomenon,there is little discussion about how the rural elite structure shapes and influences the form of rural governance,and it lacks an analysis of the relationship between the two in the process of modern state construction.A survey of individual villages found that the traditional rural elite structure has a specific influence and shaping effect on the formation of the dominant form.Based on this,the core question that the thesis aims to answer is:How does the rural elite structure shape and influence the form of rural rule?Focusing on the above issues,based on the basic facts of the village,the thesis will carry out the following three levels of research.First,the evolution of the elite structure and the form of rural governance.Second,how the traditional rural elite structure influences and shapes the form of rural governance,and why the disintegration of the elite structure will invalidate the form of rural governance.Third,how the rural elite structure affects the path of national construction.Therefore,this thesis will first describe the elite structure of the case village in the traditional period and its relationship with the form of rural governance,then sort out the changes of the elite structure and the form of governance in the process of national construction of Nanjing National Government,and finally show how the rural elite structure and the form of rural governance collapse at the same timeThrough research and analysis,the thesis will draw the following conclusions:First,The form of rural governance has undergone changes from "informal agent system","quasi-formal agent system","quasi-administrative system",and "maintenance system".The National Government only changed the surface of the form of rural rule,but did not change the shaping logic of the rural elite structure to the form of rural governance.Therefore,while the elite structure is affected by external forces and tends to disintegrate,the form of rural governance inevitably collapses.Second,The diversified authority source mechanism and the power distribution mechanism formed in the negotiation make the traditional rural elite structure present the characteristics of compound network.The key nodes in the traditional state control can use the entire elite structure to maintain the form of rural governance.However,the change of authority and power source mechanism makes the rural elite structure increasingly split,which leads to the fragmentation of the social control model and the failure of the form of rural governance.Third,the traditional rural elite structure is a relatively fragile,unorganized,multi-centered structural system The infiltration of state power will inevitably lead to changes in the elite structure.Therefore,the modern state construction based on "cooperation" by the Nanjing National Government can only Choose to rebuild the traditional elite structure and its relationship,or carefully control the state power infiltration process while it is absorbed into the state structure,and then transform it.However,due to internal and external pressures,as well as the human,material and financial resources needed for reconstruction,it is obviously difficult for the Nanjing National Government to achieve this goal before the completion of modern state construction.