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An Empirical Test of the Influence of Rural Leadership on the Willingness to Participate in Public Affairs from the Perspective of Leadership Identification

Author

Listed:
  • Mengjuan Zhang

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
    Center for Competitive Creative Design, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK)

  • Hongwei Shi

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Leon Williams

    (Center for Competitive Creative Design, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK)

  • Paul Lighterness

    (Center for Competitive Creative Design, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK)

  • Mingxing Li

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

  • Asad Ullah Khan

    (School of Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China)

Abstract

The participation of villagers in rural public affairs is vital for the sustainable development of rural communities and the improvement of villagers’ quality of life. Various factors, including individual characteristics, village environment, social forces, and national policies, influence villagers’ willingness to participate. However, empirical research on the determinants of villagers’ participation in public affairs often overlooks the role of grassroots leadership. To address this gap, this study proposes a theoretical model examining the relationship between transformational leadership and villagers’ willingness to participate in public affairs. Using a sample of 438 villagers from Jiangsu Province in eastern China, structural equation modeling and regression are employed to analyze the data. The findings indicate that moral modeling, leadership charm, and personalized care directly impact villagers’ willingness to participate in public affairs or indirectly influence it through leadership identification, which acts as a mediator. Furthermore, shared vision enhances the positive relationship between leadership identification and villagers’ awareness of public affairs participation. These findings provide valuable insights for village cadres seeking to promote active participation in public affairs among villagers. Specifically, gaining recognition through virtuous conduct, capabilities, and strong cadre–villager relationships serves as a foundation for influencing villagers’ willingness to participate in public affairs, while shared vision plays a strategic role in mobilizing villagers based on their identification with leaders.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengjuan Zhang & Hongwei Shi & Leon Williams & Paul Lighterness & Mingxing Li & Asad Ullah Khan, 2023. "An Empirical Test of the Influence of Rural Leadership on the Willingness to Participate in Public Affairs from the Perspective of Leadership Identification," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:10:p:1976-:d:1257948
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Jensen, Maika & Potočnik, Kristina & Chaudhry, Sara, 2020. "A mixed-methods study of CEO transformational leadership and firm performance," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 836-845.
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