Agricultural Involution and Bureaucratic Involution: Types, Concepts, Empirical Generalizations, and Theoretical Mechanisms.

The article reviews the history of the word "involution," the empirical basis of the concept of "agricultural involution," and the mechanisms operating behind that phenomenon. It then considers the very different empirical bases and mechanisms of "bureaucratic involution." State and peasant might interact in a positive way that leads to development – as when the state in the Reform era gave peasants the power and right to respond to market stimuli and develop the "labor and capital dual intensifying" "new agriculture" that has led to genuine development, demonstrating how small peasants have been the true primary subjects of Chinese agriculture and the true key to genuine agricultural development. By contrast, if bureaucratic involution should force on peasants policies that run counter to realities, it can lead to malignant "ultra-involution." Similar consequences can be seen in spheres with scarce opportunities relative to the number of people seeking them, once they are placed under the forces of bureaucratic involution, as in the "examinations-above-all-else education system" as well as in similar (public and private) enterprise management. That is why the word "involution" has recently triggered such widespread resonance among so very many people. What is needed is state-party policies that truly accord with the interests of the people and draw their active participation. That kind of combination is what can check tendencies toward ultra-involution. 摘要: 文章首先梳理"内卷"一词的历史，并总结"农业内卷化"概括的经验依据以及其运作机制。然后，进而讨论"官僚主义内卷化"的很不一样的经验依据和机制。在政府和农业的互动中，两者可能良性结合——特别是改革期间国家赋权赋能予小农之后所呈现的市场经济中的"劳动与资本双密集化"的"新农业"发展，说明小农户乃是中国农业的真正主体，也是中国农业真正现代化的关键。但是，当官僚主义强加于小农不符实际的设想，它会导致恶性的违反农民意愿和利益的"超内卷化"。类似的现象可以见于机会相对稀缺和竞争者相对众多，处于官僚主义内卷化之下的应试教育制度以及与其相似的（公私）企业管理体系。"内卷"一词因此而在最近触发了人们广泛和深层的共鸣。抑制超内卷化的倾向需要结合党和国家的良性领导与人民的积极参与。 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]