Reform of Rural Collective Economic Organizations: Hotspots, Evolution, and Implications for Rural Sports Development

Abstract

This study investigates the thematic distribution, evolutionary trends, and future directions of research on the reform of rural collective economic organizations, with particular attention to implications for rural sports development and community engagement. Using 5157 keywords from 3028 Chinese journal articles included in the CNKI database (1984–2022) as the data source, co-word analysis was conducted with Cite Space 6.1.R2 software to identify research hotspots and patterns. The findings reveal that research on rural collective economic organization reform primarily focuses on four key areas: organizational change, property rights reform, policy-driven initiatives, and development revitalization. Following the dissolution of the People’s Commune, the evolution of research topics can be categorized into three phases: reform advancement, reform adjustment, and reform deepening. At macro, meso, and micro levels, future research directions focus on rural revitalization, the rural collective economy, property rights, and governance. These insights offer significant implications for rural sports development, highlighting the potential for integrating economic reforms with sports infrastructure, community participation, and cultural revitalization in rural areas. By aligning reforms with sports and physical activities, rural communities can foster social cohesion, enhance well-being, and support sustainable development.