Spatial-temporal evolution and enhancement pathways of global rural revitalization: a dynamic qualitative comparative analysis of 146 countries

Abstract Rural revitalization plays a pivotal role in advancing global sustainable development. However, existing scholarly efforts have yet to comprehensively explore the evolutionary trajectories, spatial heterogeneity, and disparities in rural revitalization level (RRL) on a global scale. Furthermore, there remains a paucity of research that systematically identifies diverse pathways of rural revitalization derived from country-specific rural development experiences. This gap impedes progress toward achieving sustainable rural development worldwide. To address this deficiency, this study develops a comprehensive evaluation framework using globally accessible and representative indicators to measure the RRL across 146 countries from 2000 to 2020. It further investigates the spatial-temporal dynamics and regional disparities inherent in these levels. Building upon these findings, this study employs a dynamic qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) approach to uncover the configuration paths leading to successful rural revitalization. The results indicate a moderate increase in the global average RRL, rising from 0.4350 to 0.5160 over the study period. Europe consistently maintained the highest RRL, while Africa lagged significantly behind. Spatial autocorrelation analysis reveals significant clustering patterns in RRL across nations, with the Moran’s I increasing from 0.8095 to 0.8689. Despite notable inequalities in RRL both globally and within individual continents, the inter-country disparity has shown a gradual decline over time. Configuration path analysis demonstrates that no single factor alone is sufficient to guarantee a high RRL. Instead, three distinct pathways—namely, industrial competitiveness and economy driven pathway, industrial competitiveness, economy and policy driven pathway, and industrial structure and economy driven pathway—are identified as effective strategies for promoting rural revitalization. Given the diversity in national resource endowments, socioeconomic development stages, and institutional frameworks, this study underscores the necessity of tailoring rural revitalization strategies to local contexts. Policymakers are encouraged to adopt differentiated and context-sensitive approaches to foster inclusive and sustainable rural development.