Abstract: The relationship network effect of rural society makes information and resources always intercepted and captured by a small number of elites at the first time. Institutional inertia has gradually formed and strengthened the preference of rural society for elite governance. Rural elites obtain support from the outside world and transmit vertically through the social relationship network. The differential pattern of information dissemination within the village leads to villagers' political indifference, which further aggravates the aiming deviation. The comity and stability of atomized villagers and the tolerance and patience of disguised acquiescence provide psychological space for elite capture. While avoiding the elite capture, the civilian capture should also be avoided at the other end. The elite capture should be fundamentally alleviated by shaping a positive elite culture with responsibility and action, improving the villagers' sense of political efficacy and participation quality, strengthening the external system supply in line with the modernization of rural governance, strengthening the guidance of party construction, and stimulating the village to gather political consensus.

Key words: elite capture, rural vitalization, social network, grassroots governance, targeted poverty alleviation, informal institution