Cracking the Suspension: A Study on Embedded Governance Strategies in the Age-Friendly Transformation of Village M

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmsd.202512217

Author(s)

Xing Xiao

Affiliation(s)

School of Management, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing, China

Abstract

This study takes aging-in-place renovation projects under the broader framework of urban renewal as a critical entry point, addressing the increasing disjunction between top-down resource implementation and the actual needs of grassroots residents. It introduces the concept of the “suspension phenomenon” as an analytical framework to explain this misalignment, characterized by the detachment of administrative actions from local realities. Taking M Village in Chongqing—a typical aging community undergoing renovation—as an empirical case, the research constructs a composite governance model that integrates four key dimensions: power transmission, resource optimization, value consensus cultivation, and a dynamic feedback system. Drawing upon extensive fieldwork, including first-hand data collection, structured interviews, and concept text analysis, the study reveals several core contradictions within the renovation process. These include the inefficient flow of administrative directives, structural imbalances between resource supply and demand, and significant intergenerational perception gaps between concept designers and elderly beneficiaries. The findings suggest that these challenges stem from a fundamental lack of embedded mechanisms that can effectively integrate institutional governance with the lived experience of grassroots communities. The research further demonstrates that through embedded governance—where concept design, resources, authority, and values are aligned with the actual dynamics of local governance—it is possible to resolve the suspension phenomenon. The integration of governance elements into the community’s everyday operational logic enables more responsive, participatory, and effective renovation practices. This model provides not only a theoretical solution to the practical paradox of “government-led initiatives with minimal resident participation,” but also generates a replicable, demand-oriented approach to community renewal. The study’s implications are twofold: first, it contributes to the improvement of elderly living conditions by tailoring renovation efforts to actual needs rather than top-down assumptions; second, it advances the modernization of grassroots governance by providing a framework for responsive concept design and implementation. Moreover, the insights derived from M Village offer valuable references for similar renovation efforts in other aging communities across China and potentially beyond.

Keywords

Suspension Phenomenon; Embedded Governance; Aging-in-Place Renovation; Community Renewal; Grassroots Governance

References

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