PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2018, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (5): 627-635.doi: 10.18306/dlkxjz.2018.05.006

• Theoretical Analysis • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The process of rural transformation in the world and prospects of sustainable development

Yuheng LI1(), Jiayu YAN1,2, Wenhao WU3, Yansui LIU1,3,*()   

  1. 1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    3. College of Resources Science & Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China;
  • Received:2017-12-27 Revised:2018-04-19 Online:2018-05-28 Published:2018-05-28
  • Contact: Yansui LIU E-mail:liyuheng@igsnrr.ac.cn;liuys@igsnrr.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 41771191;Global Rural Plan-China Rural Vitalization Research Project

Abstract:

Based on a literature review and analysis of the statistics of the World Bank, this study investigated the rural transformation process of the world from the aspects of rural population, employment, grain production, and public services. It revealed that the world has transformed from rural society to urban society and from agriculture-based economy to nonagricultural economy. In this process, the development efficiency and public service quality were improved. The article points out that accompanying the globalization, industrialization, and urbanization processes, rapid rural depopulation exacerbated rural instability and vulnerability and led to rural decline that endangers rural sustainability. It highlights the importance of rural vitalization and calls for ruralization to form the urban-rural regional pattern with urbanization. Scientific planning, relocation, and local stakeholders' bottom-up initiatives must be encouraged. It is also necessary to scientifically govern the world's rural transformation process, identify and develop the rural vitalization growth point, and improve rural resilience.

Key words: rural transformation, rural vitalization, rural resilience, rural restructuring, sustainable development