Abstract:

Grassroots governance is undergoing an intelligent transformation driven by digital platforms， giving rise to a new configuration of smart social governance. Digital technologies provide instrumental support for empowering grassroots governance and offer technical pathways for alleviating administrative burdens at the grassroots level. However， few studies systematically examine how the embedding of digital technology reshapes the power structure in grassroots governance. This study shows that the state enhances its information capacity through a process mechanism characterized by upward information aggregation， upward transfer of control， and power redistribution， thereby triggering structural changes in grassroots governance. By introducing a platform-based track into the traditional dual track of autonomy and administration， digital technology profoundly alters the power structure. Digital platforms largely transcend the locality of information and facilitate the transfer of informational power from grassroots government to higher-level governmentby centralizing control over information upward.As digital platforms are constructed and integrated hierarchically， the intermediary role of grassroots workers between the state and society is significantly weakened. Under conditions of technological mediation， grassroots workers are increasingly subject to standardized and proceduralized governance requirements， which constrain their discretionary space for action and giverise to a paradox of technological burden reduction. These findings suggest thatit is essential to reclaim the value of minimalist governance to build a streamlined and efficient digital governance ecosystemin the digital era.

Key words: state information capacity, digital platforms, smart social governance, grassroots burden reduction, dual-track politics