Reconceptualising the rural through planetary thinking: A field experiment of sustainable approaches to rural revitalisation in China

Abstract

Drawing on a critical reflection on the long-lasting debates of rural-urban dichotomy, we argue for a reconceptualisation of the rural that emphasises the ever-evolving and multifaceted nature of rurality to explore alternative pathways of rural revitalisation through non-urban-centric planetary thinking. Instead of viewing the rural and the urban as two contrasting and competing categories, we advocate for planetary thinking that looks beyond spatial boundaries and volumetric changes to focus on the co-evolving multiple trajectories of human-nature interaction, with a particular emphasis on rural transformation. Our propositions are three-fold. First, as an integral and indispensable component of the planetary system, the sustainable and equitable development of the rural is of planetary significance. The harmonious human-nature relations embodied in rural practices hold the key to tackling anthropogenic challenges. Second, rurality is constantly rejuvenated and enriched by new economic and sociocultural practices and technological innovations along with its urban counterpart, during which ruralisation and urbanisation are intersecting and co-evolving at the planetary scale. Third, rural communities are important nodes of the planetary networks of resources, people, information, and knowledge connected through multi-directional flows in which the agency of rural communities is increasingly being recognised and strengthened. We then present a field experiment of green development in Shishou, central China to exemplify how this reconceptualisation helps to foster virtuous urban-rural interactions in response to national and global changes to unleash the potentials of the countryside through sustainable revitalisation approaches. While the green development experiment in Shishou is far from ideal, the project demonstrates major breakthroughs concerning rural-urban relations and the multifaceted rurality. These new approaches to rural revitalisation hold the hope for nurturing endogenous growth through empowering local communities and catering to indigenous needs while addressing planetary challenges, which can eventually be scaled up to wider regions and further afield.