Green Shoots of Revival: Political Leadership and the Differentiation of Space in a “Zero Pollution Village” in Rural Zhejiang, China

This article uses a case study of “Zero Pollution Village” (ZPV) initiative in Zhejiang, China, to illustrate how the Chinese state attempts achieve rural revitalisation by harnessing principles uneven and combined development (UCD) relying on leadership returned migrants known as “country sages” (乡贤, xiangxian). The ostensible goals are improve solid waste management develop ecotourism, creating model suitable for replication elsewhere. Village residents aim maximise returns human, natural, social, material resources at scale village household. shows UCD can become driver both positive negative changes which manipulated pursuit hybrid capitalist-socialist development. research is based visits follow-up interviews from 2019 2022.