Breaking the “Involution” Trap of Digital Rural Governance: The Crucial Roles of Technological Embedding and Spatial Justice

The “Digital Countryside” initiative is profoundly reshaping rural China, transforming traditional villages into complex hybrids of physical realities and virtual networks. However, current research often treats rural space statically and overlooks the dynamic interplay between spatial dimensions in developing regions. Drawing on Henri Lefebvre’s spatial triad theory, this study proposes a novel framework to examine how the restructuring of physical, social, and digital spaces influences grassroots governance effectiveness. Empirically, this study is based on a dataset covering 108 villages across Jiangsu Province, with 210 valid questionnaires collected from village cadres and representatives. Each questionnaire is linked to a specific village, forming a village-referenced individual-level dataset. The analysis primarily focuses on Northern Jiangsu as a representative developing region, while retaining inter-regional variation for robustness. Using K-Means clustering and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the results reveal significant spatial heterogeneity, identifying distinct village configurations with uneven developmental paths. Crucially, structural analysis indicates a “saturation effect” where traditional physical infrastructure no longer directly drives governance improvements. Instead, Digital Space has emerged as the dominant engine. However, this digital impact is not automatic; it relies on a critical mediation pathway through “Technological Embedding” and the fostering of multi-actor “Subject Synergy.” Furthermore, avoiding governance “involution” ultimately depends on an institutional imperative: synergy alone cannot directly drive governance efficacy without flexible “Institutional Environment Adaptation.” Most critically, Spatial Justice Perception is identified as a decisive boundary condition; low perceived fairness acts as a “justice trap” that significantly dampens the positive returns of digital investment, underscoring that breaking this trap is essential for promoting sustainable rural development and long-term governance effectiveness in the digital era.