Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China’s farmers have achieved genuine personal liberation. Large numbers of traditional farmers have broken free from the land to which they had been tied for millennia and moved to the cities, becoming a distinct demographic in this unique historical phase of social development—the migrant workers. The outflow of large numbers of young and able-bodied workers has led to a polarization among the rural population left behind, with one group known as “386199On one end of the spectrum are the women, children, and elderly left behind by ”military units“—a group that generally lacks education and labor skills, relying on meager income from farming or government aid to sustain their basic livelihoods; at the other end are the very few young and middle-aged adults who have chosen to put down roots in their hometowns, either out of laziness or to protect their vested interests. This group generally makes a living by exploiting ”resources”—whether by leasing mountain forests, farmland, or fish ponds for aquaculture; opening shops, hotels, or restaurants to generate income; or organizing gambling, drug trafficking, and loan sharking to turn a profit—often relying on local natural resources or personal connections for their livelihood.

Driving luxury cars, collecting welfare, operating mines, serving as village Party branch secretaries, bullying villagers, and rallying officials—once these “rural entrepreneurs,” who had gotten rich early on in the reform era thanks to their “pioneering spirit,” were elected to the village “Two Committees” through village-level elections, the combination of “power, money, and influence” gradually transformed them from “rural entrepreneurs” into “village tyrants.” These village tyrants often exude an air of rough-and-tumble underworld charm; they take pride in befriending “powerful figures” at the county and township levels, yet regard adherence to laws and regulations as a disgrace; they take pride in “pulling strings” and “playing tricks,” yet regard reason and following the rules as a disgrace; When villagers come to seek assistance, they act as representatives of authority who put on a show of courtesy only to turn them away; when their underworld associates come to have fun, they become local tycoons with connections that reach the heavens; and when leading officials come to visit, they become warm and hospitable confidants. “Changing faces” is essential to the survival of village bullies, while “disrupting governance, defying the law, seizing wealth, and committing violence” are their defining traits. These village bullies—who exhibit certain characteristics of organized crime groups and recognize only power rather than the law—collude with local clan and administrative forces, becoming dual representatives of both official and civilian authority over the villagers’ heads. This creates a profound governance crisis lurking beneath the seemingly tranquil surface of rural China.

Grassroots social governance has always been an exceptionally difficult challenge. In ancient China, following the principle that “officials should not go below the county or township level,” rural communities were left to the self-governance of local wise men and gentry, supplemented by the “clan system,” a practice that remained unchanged for thousands of years. Following the Reform and Opening-Up, grassroots politics withdrew significantly from rural social life, leaving a worrying vacuum in the political ecosystem of China’s rural communities. In recent years, with the advance of urbanization, rural land prices have risen steadily in the market. Driven by both financial incentives and the power vacuum, “local strongmen”+“The ”local clan-based“ governance model is becoming increasingly prevalent, while village committees—the ”tentacles“ of grassroots government governance—are either taken over by village bullies or rendered powerless by various village councils organized by these bullies. The intractably complex nature of grassroots social life, combined with the flawed and opaque election system for the ”two committees” at the grassroots level, is the most fundamental cause of the weakening of grassroots organizations and the rampant dominance of village bullies.

To address this “grassroots crisis”—which has been overlooked by mainstream society—efforts must be focused on at least two major areas.

First, we must transform the social structure of rural China by reclaiming the increasingly eroded voice of the countryside from the “local strongmen” and “clan-based systems” and placing it in the hands of Party members. Meanwhile, “village bullies”—representatives formed by the collusion of rural “local strongmen” and “clan-based systems”—must be subject to multi-level, targeted governance. First, prioritize crackdowns and strengthen governance. Government departments at the county and township levels must expedite the establishment of open communication channels with villagers and respond appropriately to their expressed opinions. “Village bullies” with clear evidence of illegal activity must be targeted with decisive measures. In villages where grassroots organizations are disorganized and government authority has weakened, the prestige of Party members must be upheld, Party building strengthened, and the Party’s core leadership role emphasized through publicity efforts. Second, adopt a multidimensional approach to comprehensive governance. We must strengthen the authority of township governments, enhance their independent law enforcement powers, and rectify township agencies that have overstepped their authority. Departments such as public security, urban construction, family planning, petition handling, civil affairs, and other departments and units to bridge the “last mile” of connection with the public. We must thoroughly break the deadlock where villagers “only recognize the village committee but are unaware of the township government,” safeguard the rights and obligations of the people from multiple angles, and prevent “village bullies” from becoming “local tyrants.” Third, adhere to the mass line for long-term governance. We must consolidate the core role of Party members, instill faith in the law among the people, and shift rural governance from a model of “clan-based decision-making enforced by village bullies” to the correct path of “suggestions from the people, decisions by Party members.” We must accelerate the cleanup and rectification of the Party membership, cultivate a group of qualified Party members who dare to speak up for the people and challenge improper decisions by village committees, and transform the current situation of “Party members who merely raise their hands” and “absentee Party members,” and “yes-men,” so that the people are firmly united around Party members and speak with one voice.

Second, we must improve the election system for grassroots “two committees” leadership teams to further ensure that elections are just, fair, open, and transparent. Democracy is a broad concept that varies depending on the people, the place, and the time; “one person, one vote” does not necessarily equate to democracy. Before casting a ballot, it must be ensured that voters have access to information and are aware of the candidates; when casting a ballot, it must be ensured that voters have not been bribed or coerced and are acting of their own free will; after casting a ballot, it must be ensured that the process of announcing and counting the votes is open and transparent, with no false reporting or concealment. More importantly, vetting of the personal and family backgrounds of elected officials must be strengthened; if they fail the vetting, their election—even if based on the will of the people—must be invalidated. If they pass the vetting, a probationary period must be established, with continued, rigorous oversight and monitoring to ensure that elected officials can both “rise to office” and “step down” as needed. Even the most perfect system requires strict implementation to be effective, and even the most standardized implementation requires follow-up investigation and monitoring to be sustainable. The core of a democratic electoral system lies not in the number of votes cast, but in the awakening of public consciousness.

Currently, the world’s attention is focused on China’s urban development, and the loud applause for its achievements has caused the Chinese people to forget the various contradictions that have accumulated in rural China beneath the veneer of prosperity. The corruption issues involving “big tigers” and “little flies” stem from lax personal conduct and deficiencies in education and management. While the loss of trillions in assets is certainly alarming, as long as the Party Central Committee and departments at all levels continue to strengthen governance and education through sustained, steady efforts, good governance will ultimately prevail. However, the series of rural conflicts represented by “village bullies” are constantly eroding the very foundations of social development. No matter how high or long a dam may be built, if its foundations are severed, it will collapse overnight. It must be understood that when the countryside is governed well, the nation is at peace; the foundation of China’s development still lies in its vast rural lands. Though “village bullies” may seem insignificant, if left unchecked, they will inevitably pose a threat!