A Study on the Modes of Spatial Production in Commercial Capital's Participation in Rural Governance

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmsd.202512527

Author(s)

Ba Yi

Affiliation(s)

Sanya University, Sanya, Hainan, China

Abstract

Based on a comparative case study of Z Village in Hainan and W Village in Inner Mongolia, this paper explores the underlying mechanisms through which commercial capital influences the effectiveness of rural governance. The study finds that the outcomes of capital intervention are not determined by its economic scale but by the form of spatial production it triggers within the community. The research identifies and elucidates two modes of spatial production: the "Suspension-Fragmentation" mode and the "Embeddedness-Reciprocity" mode. The former manifests as capital dividing community space into commercialized zones centered on realizing exchange value; its operational logic is suspended above the community surface, leading to a weakening of social ties. The latter is characterized by capital embedding itself into local networks and, together with the community, re-producing physical space into a public sphere with both economic and social functions; its operational logic is one of mutual nourishment, thereby catalyzing community social capital. By introducing the analytical perspective of spatial sociology, this study demonstrates that "spatial production" is a core dimension that cannot be overlooked in understanding rural governance. The conclusion points out that guiding capital from "suspension" to "embeddedness" and promoting the return of rural space from a "commodity of capital" to a "homeland of community" are crucial for achieving sustainable rural development.

Keywords

Rural Governance; Production of Space; Social Capital; Commercial Capital

References

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