Multi-Layered State Actors and Rural Land Experimentation in Wujin

This chapter addresses the second research question by examining how a centrally designated rural land experiment was translated and implemented at the county level through the case of Wujin District. It analyses the cross-scalar interactions among key state actors and shows how rural land experimentation both relied on and reshaped existing power relations across administrative tiers. The chapter argues that experimentation and state rescaling were mutually reinforcing processes, as local governments situated at different positions within the urban hierarchy strategically adjusted their power configurations to facilitate reform and pursue land-based development interests. This chapter is arranged in six parts. It first reviews the formulation of rural land reform at the central level and its experimental features. It then examines Wujin’s preparation for becoming Jiangsu’s sole pilot, followed by an analysis of the top-down organizational structure extending from the central state to township governments. The fourth and fifth sections discuss the restructuring of state power before and during the reform, demonstrating how the experiment induced further scalar reconfiguration. The chapter concludes by summarizing the key findings from Wujin and reflecting on the research questions.