Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art & Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The contemporary world is experiencing rapid urbanization, with approximately half of the global population now residing in urban areas. However, if urbanization and urban development are not adequately managed, they can engender profound challenges, including inequality, social exclusion, and widening social divides within cities. In response to these challenges, this study addresses the lack of a systematic, ethically grounded framework for the concept of the "inclusive city" in urban studies. The primary objective of this research is to establish an ethical foundation for understanding the position and dimensions of an inclusive city. This is achieved by providing a multidimensional definition of urban inclusivity through a systematic literature review and an ethical evaluation based on four normative ethical theories: consequentialist (teleological), deontological, virtue, and contractarian ethics. The present study employs a qualitative research design, utilizing a systematic literature review (SLR) framework coupled with an inductive thematic analysis strategy for data analysis. The systematic review was conducted using the Web of Science database. Following a three-stage screening process based on the PRISMA guidelines, 48 peer-reviewed articles were selected for the final analysis. Subsequently, the core themes of the inclusive city were extracted from the selected literature using inductive thematic analysis. Finally, these extracted themes were analyzed as the underlying dimensions of the inclusive city through the lens of normative ethical theories. The thematic analysis reveals that the inclusive city possesses a multidimensional structure comprising four overarching themes: (1) socio-political justice; (2) physical form, accessibility, and urban infrastructure; (3) governance, participation, and planning processes; and (4) sustainability, environment, and quality of life. The ethical evaluation demonstrates that these dimensions are not merely technical or tactical planning objectives; rather, they constitute profound and strategic ethical imperatives. Consequentialist ethics frames inclusivity as the maximization of collective welfare subject to prioritizing constraints; deontological ethics grounds it in the inalienable rights and inherent dignity of every citizen; virtue ethics posits it as the manifestation of good governance and civic virtue; and contractarian ethics interprets it as the realization of a just social contract. This research offers an innovative synthesis of contemporary urban studies and normative ethics. By systematically bridging the "what" (dimensions) and the "why" (ethical foundations) of inclusive cities, this study provides a coherent, multidimensional conceptual framework for urban planners, designers, policymakers, and researchers to foster more equitable and inclusive cities for the future.
Keywords
- Inclusive City
- Inclusiveness
- Normative Ethics
- Ethics of Built Environment
- Ethical City
- Thematic Analysis
- Urban Studies
Main Subjects
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