What important roles can 'xiangxian' play in rural governance?
如何发挥乡贤的重要作用？

The Chinese word “乡贤” (xiangxian) means talented villagers with virtue. Nowadays, they are usually seen as an important player in developing public etiquette and ethical standards to become more aligned with core socialist values in rural China. This case is derived from Chengxiang Town of Taicang County in Jiangsu Province. In it, ‘xiangxian’ have played more than the role as usually expected in rural governance.
乡贤文化是当代精神文明建设的重要内容之一，是引领道德风尚、弘扬社会主义核心价值观的重要抓手。在开展新时代文明实践和推进乡村振兴工作中，江苏省太仓市城厢镇突出村规民约涵养淳朴民风、乡贤能人引领良好家风、文化业态培育文明乡风的作用，移旧风、易陋俗，淳乡风、聚民心，形成了村村有亮点、处处讲文明的良好局面。

There are three milestones in this case. First, thirteen ‘xiangxian’ were selected from local communities to serve as volunteer mediators to help manage conflicts over governance issues in Chengxiang Town. This led to the establishment of a social organization by the name of “Laoniangjiu zhiyuanfuwushe”. Then, the pool of potential ‘xiangxian’ was expanded to include villagers from other groups such as well-respected grassroots cadres, villagers with talent for economic development and cultural development, retired leaders and workers, and moral exemplars. Third, each of the eight villages in Chengxiang Town established its “Hall of Xiangxian” whose members were chosen from the enlarged pool. Currently, these halls have become a governance mechanism through which ‘xiangxian’ guide villagers to participate in making decisions about local affairs, expressing opinions about residential development, and managing conflicts within local communities.
城厢镇以人民调解组织“老张工作室”为基础，选聘13名村、社区乡贤人士为义务调解员，成立了“老娘舅志愿服务社”社会组织。为进一步发现和挖掘乡贤资源和潜在人物，不断扩大“老娘舅志愿服务社”的影响力和作用力，成立“乡贤议事厅”，将村、社区的优秀基层干部、经济文化能人、退休干部职工及道德模范等群体纳入乡贤体系，扩大了乡贤队伍的覆盖面。目前，城厢镇8个村都挂牌设立“乡贤议事厅”，为乡贤群体带领广大群众参与社区事务决策、建言村居发展和民间调解提供载体和平台。

This case demonstrates four roles of ‘xiangxian’ in rural governance. The first is that of facilitator in rural economic development. Many ‘xiangxian’ have resources with respect to capital, technology, information, market, and network, all of which can be used to develop the economy of their village. The second role is that of ‘safety valve’ or ‘stabilizer’ in rural community. ‘Xiangxian’ can contribute to social stability by their constructive management of conflicts, particularly in the form of preventing minor conflicts from becoming major ones and dividing major conflicts into minor ones that are often easier to manage. In the third place, ‘xiangxian’ can become villagers’ role models that embody core socialist values. They are, in this sense, moral exemplars of their village. Their fourth role is that of mediator between villagers and local government in rural governance. Since ‘xiangxian’ tend to be perceived as trustworthy in their community, their opinions and suggestions regarding issues of great importance to the village are more likely to be considered or even accepted by other villagers. Thus, ‘xiangxian’ can help to build mutual trust between villagers and local government in the long term.
乡贤的作用主要体现在以下四个方面：第一，助力作用。乡贤中有很多“经济小能手”，其在资金、技术、信息、市场与人脉等资源方面占据一定优势，通过项目迁徙、资金回流、信息回馈、智力回乡、技术援助等等方式建设家乡，协助家乡百姓构建出促进农村经济发展各要素的内生条件与优势。第二，稳定作用。乡村里有时也会产生一些矛盾和纠纷事件。将乡贤理念整合至乡村治理进程中，能实现“大事化小、小事化了”，进而构建和谐、稳定的乡村环境。乡贤在农村治理中充当着“安全阀”、“稳定器”的角色。第三，示范作用。乡贤中的人大多是具有较好的德行、声望及才能的人，也是社会主义核心价值观在乡村中践行与落实的“带头人”。其自身就是一面旗帜，是农民学习的榜样与标杆，能发挥楷模与道德教化的作用。第四，枢纽作用。乡贤在乡村社会中占据的地位相对较高，村民对他们有着较浓厚的信任感，在重大事宜的决策方面能够倾听乡贤的意见或建议，久而久之使其成为农民的“知心人”，这间接地诠释了诚信在农村治理中的作用。