Rural settlements, serving as the core units of production and life for rural inhabitants and forming the bedrock of social structure, hold a pivotal position in China's modernization journey. They function not only as strategic hubs for fostering integrated urban-rural development but also as crucial links in advancing the new wave of urbanization. Since the inception of reform and opening-up policies, China's rural settlements have witnessed remarkable advancements, cultivating a variety of development paradigms and practical insights. With the thorough implementation of the national rural revitalization strategy, these settlements have emerged as vital "laboratories" for promoting urban-rural integration and bridging the urban-rural divide.
This special edition endeavors to explore the evolution of rural settlements within the ambit of China's rural revitalization endeavors by showcasing successful narratives and hands-on experiences from various regions and settlement types. It aims to unveil the underlying logic and external stimuli driving rural settlement development. Simultaneously, we will scrutinize the challenges and dilemmas confronting rural settlement growth and propose visionary and actionable solutions. By seamlessly integrating theoretical insights with practical experiences, we aspire to enrich the research corpus in this domain, furnishing scientific guidance for strategic policymaking and grassroots implementations in the new era. Furthermore, we aim to contribute fresh theoretical perspectives and pragmatic wisdom to the global discourse on rural settlement development.
We warmly invite submissions from interdisciplinary perspectives, with topics of interest encompassing, but not limited to, the following:
- Planning and Development of Rural Settlements
- Governance Frameworks and Practices within Rural Settlements
- Emerging Rural Economic Sectors and Business Innovations
- Cultural and Educational Enhancement in Rural Settlements
- Social Welfare Systems and Public Service Provision in Rural Settlements
- Comprehensive Sustainable Development Strategies for Rural Settlements