Can digital participation bridge the gap in rights among rural collective members?——Analysis based on the disembedding theory
In the context of rural collective property rights reform,the self-interest rights of collective members have been well-protected and realized.However,there is still a significant deficiency in promoting the realization of collective benefit rights and perfecting the mechanisms that safeguard them.Given the external shocks from population mobility and the internal structural changes brought about by the reform of rural collective property rights,it is imperative to critically examine the defects in collective members'rights.Additionally,the impact of digitalization on public participation is dual-faceted.Digital technologies have established a new arena for rural public engagement,broadening its scope,depth,and effectiveness,enhancing the quality of political participation and fostering a sense of ownership among villagers.Nevertheless,the effective realization of digital participation is faced with numerous problems,including the digital divide,insufficient involvement,and inadequate regulatory frameworks.Understanding the impacts and efficacy of digital participation on the rights of collective members warrants further in-depth investigation.This article aims to elucidate the causes,manifestations,and impacts of the rights gap experienced by collective members in the context of disembedding,while utilizing disembedding theory to analyze how digital participation can facilitate the re-embedding of the relationship between mobile members and rural collectives,as well as to explore its role in bridging the rights gap among collective members.From the perspective of disembedding theory,the rights gap of collective members has undergone a process of"emergence—bridging".The disembedding of individuals from land serves as a fundamental cause for the emergence of this rights gap.This is manifested in several ways.Firstly,the sense of belonging of mobile members to rural collectives diminishes,leading to a decreased willingness to participate in collective affairs.Migrant workers gradually form new social relationships in urban areas,reducing their reliance on rural collectives.Conflicts arise between individuals and their families when expressing their rights,as the individuals are influenced by family authority,further weakening their enthusiasm for rights expression.Secondly,mobile members lack convenient means and channels to participate in collective affairs,as traditional face-to-face participation channels are no longer adapt to the current reality of mobility.Although the efficiency of collective asset utilization has been improved,the members residing away from their home villages find it challenging to engage effectively in collective matters,resulting in a superficial exercise of rights that undermines collective democracy and fairness.Thirdly,existing institutional frameworks have failed to adapt to the disembedded context,leading to poor governance outcomes and a crisis of trust.The governance structure of rural collectives is imbalanced,with an increasing proportion of elderly members among those who remain,affecting the decision-making capacity of the collective.Moreover,the intervention of market forces complicates governance,as the values of external actors often conflict with those of rural collectives,resulting in governance disorder.The lack of trust raises questions about the authenticity and fairness of decisions made in member assemblies that rely on online social networks,highlighting the urgent need for institutional improvements to enhance members'digital literacy and trust foundations.In this context of dilemma,digital participation enhances the quantity,breadth,depth,and efficiency of social interactions and connections,thereby playing a positive role in bridging the rights gap.This is primarily manifested in three ways.Firstly,digital participation facilitates members in clarifying their identities,transforming traditional power orders and information transmission methods to establish a multi-centric power relationship.The openness and transparency of information promote democratic oversight,allowing collective members to feel a sense of involvement and enhancing their enthusiasm for participation.Secondly,digital participation provides diverse and intelligent mediums for collective members to exercise their rights.The integration of digital technology has unprecedentedly expanded the channels and spaces for participation,removing geographical barriers that previously hindered members from exercising their rights.Thirdly,digital participation connects members dispersed across different regions,weaving a social network that transcends boundaries.Through professional technologies,real data,and scientific operations,digital participation reshapes trust relations among members and enhances the governance efficacy of rural collective economic organizations.Therefore,digital participation offers an effective solution to bridge the rights gap.However,reconstructing the order between members and rural collectives,as well as the safeguarding of collective members'rights,are not easy tasks.Within the governance realm of rural collective economic organizations,there exists a bidirectional flow of collective members and external subjects,making governance face complex shocks from various conflicting internal and external value systems,as well as fluctuations in resources and relationships.Consequently,to maximize the effectiveness of digital participation and fully promote the safeguarding of collective members'rights,practical efforts should focus on the following aspects.Firstly,in terms of stakeholders,it is essential to encourage the participation of diverse subjects and cross-domain collaborative governance.Attention should also be given to narrow the digital divide and focus on marginalized digital groups to promote digital inclusivity.Secondly,from a conceptual standpoint,there should be an emphasis on systemic,holistic,and historical thinking.The expansion of participation channels and spaces necessitates a balance between efficiency and fairness,vibrancy and order,and development and security during governance processes.Thirdly,from an ethical perspective,vigilance against technological alienation is paramount.In the course of promoting digital transformation,it is necessary to reassess the relationship between humans and digital technologies,be cautious of technological misuse that could lead to dehumanization and the alienation of social relationships.
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