The participation of new township sages in rural community governance is an important exploration for national and local governments to enhance the effectiveness of grassroots governance. In order to analyse the relationship network and governance logic of new township sages, this paper investigates the governance practice of H village in Pengzhou City, Sichuan Province, based on the perspective of social relationship network. It is found that new township sages often have "strong relationship", "weak relationship" and "structural hole" relationship with village cadres and villagers. Different relationship statuses play different roles in village governance, with strong relationships being conducive to the handling of public affairs, weak relationships being conducive to the development of village economy, and "structural holes" being conducive to the dissemination of information and culture. 

Wang Xuehua. The influence of social relationship network of new village-sages on rural governance: A case study of H village in Pengzhou City, Sichuan Province. International Journal of Frontiers in Sociology (2024), Vol. 6, Issue 10: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFS.2024.061001.

[1] Sun Jian, He Ziling. The Logical Rationale and Cultural Orientation of New Villagers' Participation in Rural Governance in the New Era[J]. Journal of Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (Social Science Edition),2023,23(05):12-20.

[2] National Bureau of Statistics: Statistical Bulletin on China's National Economic and Social Development in 2022, 28 February 2023.

[3] Li Ying. On the Problems and Countermeasures Facing Rural Governance[J]. Agricultural Economy, 2019(11):35-37.

[4] Liu Kaijun. From Squire to New Township Sage: Inheritance and Flux of Rural Elite Governance--A Case Study Based on Rural Governance in Shangyu, Zhejiang since the Late Qing Dynasty [J]. Public Administration and Policy Review,2023,12(04):20-31.

[5] Fu Cuilian. Research on the path of new township sages to promote rural soft governance under the perspective of rural revitalisation[J]. Seeking truth,2019(04):76-83+111-112.

[6] HU Penghui, GAO Jibo. New township sages: connotation, role and bias avoidance[J]. Journal of Nanjing Agricultural University (Social Science Edition),2017,17(01):20-29+144-145.

[7] Liu Yutang, Li Shaoduo. On the function of new township sages in the construction of rural public cultural service system - based on the current situation of supply and demand of rural public cultural services[J]. Theory Monthly, 2019(04):125-131.

[8] Zhang Dengguo, Ren Huiying. Rural elite governance in contemporary China: limitations and possibilities[J]. Journal of Theory,2008(07):79-82.

[9] LIU Wei, PENG Qi. Rural elites and rural revitalisation under the perspective of structural hole theory [J]. Jianghan Forum,2020(11):133-138.

[10] Chen Hanfei, Gao Qicai. Role Analysis and Regulatory Guidance of New Township Sages' Participation in Rural Governance[J]. Tsinghua Law,2020,14(04):5-17.

[11] Peng Zongfeng, Xu Jiang. The construction of the understanding mode of the new township sages ruling the village: reflection and way out[J]. Beijing Social Science,2023(01):118-128.

[12] Zhang Xingyu, Ji Zhongyang. Paths and Practical Ways of New Township Sages Participating in Rural Community Governance--Based on the Perspective of Social Relationship Network[J]. Nanjing Social Science, 2020(08):82-87.

[13] Fei Xiaotong. Native China [M]. Shanghai: Sanlian Bookstore, 1948.

[14] GUO Yi, ZHU Yangfan, ZHU Xi. Interpersonal Interaction and Networking of Social Structures-A Constructive Basis for Social Capital Theory[J]. Social Science,2003(08):64-74.

[15] Mustafa Emirbayer, leff Goodwin. Network analysis, culture, and the problem of agency[J]. American journal of sociology, 1994,99(6):1411-1454.

[16] Chidav, W. B. Tsai. Social organisations and networks [M]. Beijing: Renmin University of China Press,2007.

[17] Song Zheren, Chen Qiuqiang. Township Sages and Rural Governance in the Perspective of Social Networks--Taking Shangyu, Zhejiang as an Example[J]. Governance Research,2020,36(04):50-58.

[18] Ji Zhongyang, Shi Hui. Inheritance and innovation in the construction of new township sage culture[J]. Jiangsu Social Science,2018(01):181-186.

[19] Xu Xueqing. Characteristics of new township sages and their role in rural revitalisation[J]. Zhongzhou Journal,2021(06):67-71.

[20] Zhou Yaohang, Liu Yiqiang. New township sages in the construction of new rural areas: value and limits[J]. Journal of Guangxi University(Philosophy and Social Science Edition),2018,40(06):32-39.