Communal Governance and Production in Rural China Today

The article focuses on the evolution and current state of communal governance and production in rural China, particularly examining the legacy of the People’s Commune system and its adaptation in contemporary communities. It outlines the historical context of the People’s Commune, which emerged in the late 1950s as a response to agricultural challenges and aimed at national industrialization, and discusses its decline following the 1978 reforms that introduced the Household Responsibility System. The article highlights three rural communities - Zhoujiazhuang, Yakou, and Zhanqi - that have retained elements of collective governance, emphasizing their strategies for food sovereignty, environmental protection, and social welfare through collective land management and economic planning. These communities illustrate the ongoing relevance of collective practices in addressing local challenges and ensuring the welfare of their members amidst broader socio-economic changes in China. [Extracted from the article]