From government-led to collaborative governance: actor-network analysis of rural cultural policy in South China

This study investigates the evolution of actor interactions in rural cultural policy implementation in Nanhai District, China, based on the perspective of Actor-Networks (ANT). By analysing the roles of multiple actors such as local governments, community residents, cultural enterprises and social organizations, it constructs a collaborative network mapping of actors in rural cultural practices. The findings reveal a three-phase trajectory: from government-led institutional exploration, to standardized promotion with social participation, and finally to industrial integration driven by diverse collaboration. Across this evolution, residents’ roles have transformed from passive recipients to active co-creators, while policy emphasis has shifted from cultural resource protection to cultural economy production. The study introduces the concept of ‘collaboration within hierarchy’ to theorize how administrative authority strategically empowers horizontal collaboration within unequal power structures in the Chinese context. These findings not only advance theoretical understanding of rural cultural policy implementation but also offer practical insights for other regions pursuing rural revitalization.