Construction Model of Digital Rural Areas in China from the Perspective of Structural Dynamics Based on Multiple Cases

Abstract

[Purpose/Significance] Accelerating the construction of digital rural areas is a strategic direction for comprehensively promoting rural revitalization, which plays an important role in promoting the modern basic living conditions in rural areas, improving the quality and efficiency of farmers' production and living, and achieving the development of urban-rural integration. In recent years, the construction of digital rural areas has been actively promoted in various regions, and a number of typical models are being explored and practised which has brought more digital dividends to rural residents. However, the regular characteristics of various practices have not been summarized in related research, resulting in poor promotion of best experience models and a lack of directional indicators for digital rural construction in different regions. This paper has summarized the regular characteristics and application mechanisms of diversified digital rural construction practices in China. The relevant conclusions would provide theoretical reference for promoting the construction of digital rural areas in different regions through classification. [Method/Process] Based on the perspective of structural elements and dynamic effects, this paper investigated four typical county-level digital rural construction models as research objects, namely Deqing County, Pukou District, Cao County, and Dianjiang County, in the national or provincial-level digital rural pilot county. Then, it used a multi-case analysis method to explore the regulatory characteristics of different types of digital rural construction models. [Results/Conclusions] The construction of digital rural areas in China mainly involves the integration of urban and rural areas, the integration of industry and city, the integration of point, line, and area, and the promotion of construction throughout the county. Influenced by factors such as the main functions of the construction, the requirements of the construction content, and the resource endowment, location, and transportation of the construction area, the internal and external thrust mechanisms of different construction models also exhibit different characteristics. In promoting the construction of digital rural areas in the future, different regions should fully consider the strength of the main functions of the construction, choose different construction mechanisms and content, so that digital rural areas can benefit more farmers, and help promote the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas. However, there are some shortcomings in this paper, such as the lack of in-depth analysis on the role and functional positioning of farmers, different levels of government, and market subject as participants. More wisdom is needed to embed the operation and maintenance mechanism for the later stage of digital rural area construction in future research.

Keywords

• digital rural area|construction mode|case analysis|structural dynamics|rural revitalization