Document Type : Research Paper
Author
aSSIS
Abstract
In the recent decades, good governance has became one of the key words in the domain of Social Sciences. this research follows two main objectives: first, to study the status of urban governance in the city of Torbat Haydarieh and second, attempting to understand the differences and similarities in perceptions and points of view of citizens and urban managers of good governance indicators in this city. Research methodology was based on descriptive – analytical method. For data collection, library documents and survey studies were used. Sample size included 383 residents over the age of 20 years old and 170 managers and experts in urban organizations. Research findings indicated that the total score of the urban governance index for citizens was equal to 1.98 while for urban managers and experts it was equal to 2.35. These results indicate that Torbat Haydarieh is not in a good state in terms of urban governance. The study results also showed that amongst the 9 indicators investigated in this research, the mean score of 8 indicators for citizens was less than the mean scores for urban managers and experts and only in consensus orientation and strategic insight indicators mean scores of citizens was higher than that of urban managers and experts. Moreover, the greatest disagreement between citizens and urban manager and experts existed in the two indicators of rule of law and efficiency and effectiveness.On the other hand, the greatest commonality between urban citizens and managers and experts existed within the parameters of transparency, accountability and justice. One of the most important findings of this research was the recognition of differences in viewpoints, perceptions and understanding between citizens with city managers and experts on some indicators such as the rule of law. Another important point in the findings is that there are similarities between the points of views of citizens with experts and city managers in regards to indicators including such as responsibility, transparency and justice. Existence of consensus on these three criteria, can be a turning point and a move in direction of implementation of urban good governance in Torbat Haydarieh. In regard the Participation Index as the first and perhaps the most important indicator of good governance, reviews indicated that one of the important commonalities in both groups is that they emphasize that the issue of participation in the mind of managers is unreal and they use this concept as a an instrument for personal and political advancement. Finally, the implementation of urban good governance in Torbat Haydarieh and maybe other urban areas of Iran, more than anything, requires strong political determination, particularly at high levels of government, and their belief in good urban governance. As long as this impertive issue don’t become an important point for all political and administrative authorities, implementation of good urban governance would not be possible.
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