Revitalizing Traditional Resources in the Modernization of Rural Governance: Creative Transformation of Clan Networks, Community Covenants, and Village Regulations

Abstract

Promoting the modernization of rural governance does not require the abandonment of indigenous governance traditions rooted in local communities. Clan networks, community covenants, and village regulations have long existed within Hakka rural communities and continue to play important roles in grassroots conflict mediation and the operation of village-level public affairs. Based on long-term field research conducted in Hakka villages in Heyuan, Guangdong Province, and drawing on practical experiences in civil and commercial mediation, deliberation within people’s congresses, and proposals submitted to political consultative bodies, this study develops an analytical framework of “traditional resources–multi-stakeholder governance entities–transformation mechanisms” to examine the dual governance effects of three types of local normative resources.The study finds that clan networks, after institutional restructuring, can serve as inclusive platforms for grassroots consultation involving diverse stakeholders; traditional ethical norms embedded in community covenants can achieve integration and mutual reinforcement with modern rule-of-law procedures; and village regulations require democratic formulation and legal review to achieve institutional upgrading under the rule of law. Practitioners with multiple roles in mediation and public participation serve as key intermediaries in activating traditional resources and improving supporting governance mechanisms.The creative transformation of traditional rural resources must adhere to three fundamental principles: the prioritization of the rule of law, multi-stakeholder collaborative governance, and the integration of procedural mechanisms throughout the governance process. These principles help prevent governance risks such as clan authoritarianism, formalistic implementation of village regulations, and collusion between local officials and clan interests. Through such transformation, indigenous rural order can be converted into stable social capital, thereby reducing administrative governance costs and enhancing the resilience of rural communities.