Urban Sociology
Narges Ghodsi; mahin nastaran; Vahid Ghasemi
Abstract
Urban segregation, as an inherent feature of cities, refers to the social distancing and residential separation in an urban context. Segregation becomes a problem when it prevents certain groups of people from accessing services, activities and spaces. The interdisciplinary nature and intertwined ...
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Urban segregation, as an inherent feature of cities, refers to the social distancing and residential separation in an urban context. Segregation becomes a problem when it prevents certain groups of people from accessing services, activities and spaces. The interdisciplinary nature and intertwined dimensions of this phenomenon have led researchers across various disciplines to study it over the past few decades. In spite of a large number of studies undertaken, there is a lack of coherent conceptual framework in this area. Therefore, the present study aims to clarify research gaps in the conceptual field of segregation by reviewing Persian articles and presenting a regular format of them. This research has applied a qualitative research methodology using basic text techniques including systematic review and qualitative meta-analysis. For this purpose, fifty selected Persian articles that were published in the period 1375-1400 have been reviewed based on their structures and contents. The findings categorize the selected articles based on the main question (what, why, how) in the form of 5 main thematic axes. Also, the evolution of the concept of segregation has been divided into four general periods: early, middle, late (current period) and future. Based on it, a definition of socio-spatial segregation has been provided. The results of this comparison indicate that urban segregation as an interdisciplinary, multidimensional and contextual subject has socio-economic, physical-spatial and political-managerial dimensions. In the current research conditions of Iran, it needs research Qualitatively focusing on topics such as conceptual modeling, and modeling the measurement of segregation (in explaining what), identifying and examining the underlying factors affecting segregation, including the structure and configuration of cities (in explaining why), as well as identify and examine policies and trends affecting segregation (in explaining how) by considering all its dimensions. This way, we will be able to reach a better understanding of the nature of this concept and investigate spatial patterns of segregation over the time in an urban context.
Regional Planning
fardis salarian; mahin nastaran; Hashem Dadashpoor
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the causes of sprawl by planning subsystems and analyze the consequences of sprawl and achieve the underlying, causal and continuity conditions in the city-region under study. The research is descriptive-analytical in nature and its purpose is applied. The ...
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the causes of sprawl by planning subsystems and analyze the consequences of sprawl and achieve the underlying, causal and continuity conditions in the city-region under study. The research is descriptive-analytical in nature and its purpose is applied. The method of data collection is library-documentary and survey. In the first part, a questionnaire of the variables affecting the sprawl that are extracted from internal and external studies is provided to the experts by purposeful sampling and then the results are analyzed using the fuzzy Delphi method. In the second part, using structured interviews with experts in the grounded theory system and using Max qda software, the interviews are reviewed, analyzed and coded. To investigate the causes of sprawl, 38 variables in 6 factors were provided to 25 experts who were selected based on purposive sampling. In order to analyze the consequences of sprawl; we used semi-structured interviews with 34 participants in the study area, the spatial consequences of scattering in the city-region were studied and 249 initial codes and 28 focal codes were determined. The most common causes of sprawl in the study area include per capita household income, land and housing trade, and land prices. In the analysis of the consequences of sprawl; The background conditions for economic development and restructuring, the causal conditions of inefficiency of the management and supervision system, the conditions of continuity including the transformation of the indigenous community and the destruction of the natural structure and the consequences of physical and spatial restructuring of the region were explained.
Urban Planning
fazilat tahari; mahin nastaran; Parviz Ejlali
Abstract
Highlights
Organizing influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in the form of causal, contextual, intervening, and consequential categories and strategies.
Classification of influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in intellectual, political, instrumental, ...
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Highlights
Organizing influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in the form of causal, contextual, intervening, and consequential categories and strategies.
Classification of influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in intellectual, political, instrumental, organizational, legal, financial, educational, and social-cultural infrastructures.
Introducing grounded theory as a suitable method to understand all the influential factors in realizing the diversity-oriented approach in Rasht.
Introduction
As an Iranian city, Rasht is made up of diverse people of different ages, sexes, physical abilities, and ethnic backgrounds. Many of the world’s urban planning mechanisms have shifted to adopt diversity-oriented approaches and incorporate diversity and difference into urban planning processes by embracing the diversity of urban residents. However, the urban planning mechanism in Iran and the city of Rasht still treats citizens as the same thanks to modernist thoughts, disregarding the differences in age, sex, ethnicity, religion, and physical ability and, consequently, the differences in the citizens’ needs in the city. Planning theory and practice has recently become more conscious of the need to cater to diverse needs and preferences. Planning for diversity and difference is a social interpretation of planning for cities and an approach that considers the needs of different groups of people. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the realization of diversity-oriented urban planning in Rasht based on the viewpoints of planning experts in the city.
Theoretical Framework
Diversity refers to the increasingly wide range of social and demographic backgrounds of people who live and work in the city. The notion of diversity is now used as a label for policies addressing the heterogeneity of local populations. Certain differences give rise to discrimination and disadvantage, while others do not. Gender, race, disability, and age are critical issues at the root of much discrimination in the society. The critical point is that differences between diverse social groups in enjoyment of the opportunities of urban planning measures are continually reproduced by a range of processes and policies, rendering a number of people mainstream and others marginal. Planning for diversity is a social interpretation of planning for cities, and is an approach that considers different groups of people. There are two conceptual frames, or ways of regarding this profoundly social interpretation of planning for cities, that need to be deployed simultaneously. Firstly, planning for diversity is planning for the diverse range of people who live in and use the city. Secondly, planning the institutional settings to encourage equality of access across places is planning to reduce difference.
Methodology
One of the most efficient qualitative research methods, the grounded theory method was used to help achieve the research purpose; since the research problem is multifaceted, complex, and procedural, grounded theory can be an excellent way to provide an understanding of all the adequate conditions and factors. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed for data collection. Then, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten of the planning experts of this city. Sampling was carried out using a nonrandom sampling method called Snowball Purposive Sampling. In this research, a systematic approach known as grounded theory was applied. The systematic approach emphasizes the adoption of data analysis steps, including open coding, axial coding, selective coding, and the development of a logical model or a visual description of the generated theory. After the collection of textual interview data, analysis and coding began along with sampling. Specialized qualitative research software called Max QDA was used for that purpose. The main tasks of this software are to categorize data and connect the categories and to enable more sophisticated data analysis. In grounded theory, the researcher extracts subcategories, main categories, and core categories from the data, and continues the analysis.
Results and Discussion
Finally, the factors effective on the realization of the diversity-oriented urban planning approach were identified, including 17 main categories and 59 subcategories and the relationships between them. These factors include 1) reflection to govern the urban planning mechanism, 2) significant urban planning policies, 3) improvement of the approach applied to develop urban development plans, 4) modification of the contents of urban development plans, 5) public demand, 6) types of urban planning system, 7) national laws protecting the rights of various social groups, 8) law enforcement, 9) citizens’ cultural and social characteristics, 10) financial strength of municipalities, 11) organizational structure of the authority implementing the plans, 12) inter-organizational coordination, 13) education of urban planning students, 14) the knowledge and experience of the producers of urban development plans, 15) city council approvals, 16) needs assessment, 17) improvement of the quality of the urban environment/diversity-oriented urban environment. In the next step, we selected the category of applying and realizing the diversity-oriented approach from the open coding stage, placed it at the center of the process studied as the central phenomenon, and then related the other categories to it. These categories include causal conditions, strategies, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, and consequences. Next, a diagram called the coding pattern was drawn, which illustrates the relationships between causal conditions, strategies, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, and consequences. In the following step, we developed a theory of the relationships between categories in the axial coding pattern. This theory provides an abstract description of the process examined in this study, namely the application and realization of the diversity-oriented urban planning approach.
Conclusion
The results demonstrate that a wide range of intellectual, procedural, instrumental, organizational, legal, financial, educational, and socio-cultural infrastructures effectively realize this approach. Identification and explanation of these factors can guide the future decisions and practices of Iran’s urban planning authorities to help recognize diverse social groups, respond to their different needs in the city, and address discrimination in urban planning practices.
Acknowledgment
This article has been extracted from the first author’s doctoral dissertation, entitled Developing a Conceptual Model of the Diversity-Oriented Urban Planning Approach: Case study of Rasht, defended at the Art University of Isfahan under the supervision of the second and third authors.
