By Li Zuojun, Research Institute of Public Administration and Human Resources, DRC & Cao Jie, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications

Research Report, No.186, 2021 (Total 6251) 2021-7-6

Abstract: The construction of digital villages requires the pooling of strength of all quarters and the role of various entities including the government, enterprises, citizens and non-governmental organizations all need to be brought into play. In order to do so, we need to leverage joint governance for digital village construction. Such a work bears political, economic and social significance. Currently, with the vigorous support from the Party and the government, the joint governance of digital villages has made important progress in various places across China. But there are still some choking points to be addressed. For instance, villagers are not active to take part in digital construction, the government capacity in leading the construction of digital villages needs to be improved, and some enterprises are reluctant to participate in the construction of digital villages. These issues are mainly due to difficulties in effectively integrating various entities’ understandings, in coordinating the liability, power and interest relations among multiple entities, and in evaluating and guiding the progress and effectiveness of joint governance. Therefore, we need to take targeted measures, build up consensus among relevant entities, flesh out the rule for joint governance and perfect the organizations for joint governance.

Keywords: construction of digital villages, joint governance, rural revitalization