Political Embeddedness and Meta-Governance: New Pathways for Rural Revitalization through Cooperatives

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmsd.202612311

Author(s)

Wei Liu1, Xin Gu1, Liying Xu1, Suhua Zhang1, Qiang Tang1, Xue Meng1, Ye Tao1, Shitian Cheng2, Zhiguo Zhu1,*

Affiliation(s)

1College of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture, Wuhu Vocational Technical University, Wuhu, Anhui, China 2Henglangshan Village Agricultural Cooperative, Wuhu, Anhui, China *Corresponding Author

Abstract

Revitalization of rural areas relies heavily on rural cooperatives, and despite that, rural cooperatives usually perform poorly. poor performance is due to bad governance, limited financing, and poor market connections. This paper focuses on the cooperative located in Henglangshan Village in Wuhu, Anhui Province, through the lens of embedded institution and collaborative governance to explore the key drivers behind the cooperative’s success. The qualitative approach employed in this study is concerned with the phenomena of organizational restructuring, resource integration, and linkage of interests. Henglangshan Village has successfully transcended many traditional barriers through strategic implementation. Embedding institutional guidance directly into the industrial chain has ensured the cooperative's adherence to the correct political orientation. The implementation of various modern management techniques has improved the cooperative’s governance. Also, the diversification of shareholding has strengthened the community of interest. The implementation of a cross-appointment system for workers has increased internal motivation. The cooperative has opened up new pathways for economic development through the reintegration of local assets and the integration of all three levels of industry. This demonstrates the meta-governance role of organizational embedding in rural economic units, offering an institutional model that synergizes institutional forces, economic development, and social governance. In this context, the paper attempts to address the issue of how political organizations, at the grassroots level, transition from an “administrative control” approach to a “leadership through empowerment” approach, thereby contributing to the improvement of the theory of cooperative governance with Chinese characteristics.

Keywords

Cooperatives; Meta-governance; Institutional embeddedness; Rural revitalization; Industrial chain integration

References

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