State-led or grassroots innovation? Comparing the transformation of two typical villages in southern China’s metropolitan hinterland

Abstract Unlike the rural transition models in other Global South countries, China's rural transformation is deeply embedded within a distinctive institutional framework. Villages in Southern China’s metropolitan hinterlands demonstrate a unique dual-track model of transformation incorporating both state-led and grassroots innovation. Based on the dominant actors in the initial phase of rural transformation, this study selects two typical villages with different driving forces—Guinan (grassroots-innovation) and Yongmo (state-led)—to empirically examine their transformation pathways through the lens of Actor-Network Theory (ANT). Key findings reveal that, first, the rural transformation model evolves from being dominated by a single type of actor in the initial phase to a multi-actor configuration characterized by negotiation, symbiosis, and co-evolution as diverse stakeholders become involved. Second, the stability of the actor-network relies on three key mechanisms: shared obligatory passage points (OPPs), effective processes of translation, and the strategic anchoring of non-human actors. Third, intermediary actors among the key players are particularly crucial, serving essential roles in linking urban and rural resources, building social capital, and enhancing rural resilience. Furthermore, the Chinese government’s role as a super-actor expands the explanatory power of ANT in contexts marked by a strong state and relatively weak communities, offering localized theoretical insights and practical implications for rural transformation in the Global South.