نشریه توسعه محلی (روستایی - شهری)
سال پانزدهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 29، پاییز و زمستان 1402)

The policy of converting rural areas to towns despite their small populations has been a significant concern in the residential system of the country over the past three decades. This has resulted in the formation of the Premature cities class, situated at the base of the urban network pyramid. The objective of this study is to investigate the standing and composition of these cities within the municipal network of Semnan province. Additionally, it seeks to identify the determinants of their growth and determine the most effective model for the transformation of a village into a city.The present study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology and possesses a practical nature in terms of its type.The research findings indicate that premature cities are the most populous in Semnan province, accounting for only 3–4% of the urban classes, despite having the largest population. Furthermore, the transformation of district centers into cities through political intervention has significantly impacted the growth of the province’s premature cities. In order to achieve the same result with villages, the optimal strategy is to consider the settlement’s regional significance and ensure that it possesses the requisite potential to develop into a city.This study’s findings validate the notion that political interventions have contributed to the emergence of a substandard category of cities known as “premature cities” at the periphery of the provincial urban network. These cities failed to fulfill the essential function of fostering progress; rather, in order to elevate a village to the status of a city, one must take into account the region's potential

The increasing expansion and density of cities and the excessive migration of villagers have made it necessary to deal with the model of sustainable development and rural-urban synergy. Urban and rural areas are inextricably linked economically, socially, and environmentally. The assumption of the separation of the city and the village causes the neglect of the mutual benefits of their demographic, economic, social and environmental dynamics. In the new development paradigm, it is reaffirmed that the traditional and outdated dichotomy of the city and village should be departed. The sustainability of urban and rural areas, as well as sustainable development, will only be possible via reducing inequality and the development gap between the city and the village.This paper compares and examines the importance of the link between cites and villages in Iran and China in historical periods with the method of comparative-historical analysis and analysis of national and international macro data and statistics.The findings indicate that China, with a distinct systematic plan, has experienced the strategy of connecting complementary regions of the country, especially connecting developed regions with underutilized regions, as the best solution for reducing poverty and regional development, and has been successful in reducing regional inequalities. Iran has implemented most of the partial and separate programs for the development of villages and cities.Generally speaking, both countries have contributed to the improvement of their social and welfare development indicators by experiencing continuous urbanization and connectivity between rural and urban areas

Villages in Iran are susceptible to water scarcity, drought, agricultural deterioration, and ultimately, dispersal and depopulation. In the interim, rural entrepreneurship may contribute significantly to rural unemployment reduction and economic expansion. The purpose of this article is to examine rural entrepreneurship in the villages of the province of Hamedan in order to illustrate the obstacles entrepreneurs face in their efforts to expand and develop small and medium-sized enterprises. Eighteen entrepreneurs were interviewed in four localities of the province for this purpose.The necessary data and qualitative study methodology were acquired via comprehensive interviews conducted with entrepreneurs. Coding of the data was performed with MAXQDA software.Drawing from the outcomes of multiple coding stages and structural and macroeconomic challenges and obstacles associated with the nation’s macroeconomy, the most significant impediments to the growth of the examined enterprises can be classified into five overarching concepts and categories. These encompass “needs-based entrepreneurship”, “incomplete branding”, “progress with double work”, “limited networking” together with “family-oriented.”The results indicate that in the society under study, rural entrepreneurship is established in response to necessity rather than opportunity. Entrepreneurs who established a company to fulfill necessities such as employment and financial security. These enterprises are exclusively owned and operated by the entrepreneur’s family, with the majority of personnel not being affiliated with the enterprise. Furthermore, these enterprises are conventionally managed,devoid of any innovative or creative practices that could enhance output and productivity

As a fundamental requirement for national progress, rural development must take precedence over other initiatives in development strategies. Among the most effective strategies for the sustainable and all-encompassing development of rural communities is maximizing the capabilities and participation of individuals, particularly villagers, in every aspect.The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of social capital on the local progress of the villages of Goldasht, Jangalabad, and Gazabad in Ghalaganj County, situated in the southern region of Kerman province. This will be achieved through the utilization of social network analysis over two distinct time periods: prior to and subsequent to the execution of the community empowerment initiative. The required data were gathered in this manner through the distribution of a network analysis questionnaire and conducting direct interviews with 251 members of the local microcredit fund, employing a full network approach.The results indicate that the density index for two ties of trust and collaboration has increased in all villages examined since the empowerment plan was implemented; Gazabad village has the maximum density associated with the tie of trust (90.1). An increase in population density results in the development of trust, participation and social capital at the individual level. The increase in the reciprocity index further demonstrates the significance and efficacy of the empowerment plan in fostering trust and collaboration among nations, bolstering social capital, and ultimately enhancing individual empowerment.The confidence of microcredit fund members has increased and their willingness to participate has been strengthened as a result of the empowerment project’s implementation, according to the results. This underscores the effectiveness of the community-based approach as a means to augment social capital. Therefore, administrators and policymakers can devise strategies to enhance sustainable rural management by utilizing these findings.

Agricultural products have been utilized in various capacities and fortitudes by human beings ever since the dawn of civilization. Agricultural products currently hold significant strategic and political value due to their ability to ensure the continued existence of governments. Hence, the objective of this study is to propose a framework for addressing the barriers that impede the growth of agricultural export enterprises.present study employs a qualitative research design, specifically descriptive field research, to gather and analyze data in accordance with the foundation's qualitative data method. One method of data acquisition utilized in this study is an open interview. The statistical community consists of individuals who possess extensive knowledge and experience in the field, including administrators of agricultural export companies and high-level customs officials. In the quantitative aspect, this expertise is supplemented by administrative personnel. Thus, until theoretical saturation was attained, thirteen interviews were conducted for the qualitative portion, and 260 sample members were selected for the quantitative portion using Cochran's formula and the random method.The solutions containing core codes (company level, sustainability, technological, market level, government and laws level, individual level) exhibit a coefficient of 0.402. Conversely, the challenges and obstacles, with a coefficient of 0.106, comprise fundamental codes (policies and laws, infrastructure, environmental factors, and market and production factors). These obstacles have a direct and statistically significant impact on the removal of barriers to the advancement of agribusiness.By fortifying the aforementioned sectors—particularly the technological sector and politics—this sector can be significantly aided in overcoming its obstacles.

The right to the city is a significant and contemplative notion within the realm of contemporary theories of citizenship rights. Its development persisted beyond Lefebvre’s 1968 proposal, manifesting itself in the theoretical contributions of Harvey, Purcell, and others. This study investigated the validity of the questionnaire-based right-to-the-city measurement instrument, as described in the aforementioned passage.The research employs a survey methodology with the objective of creating instruments. The statistical population for the research comprises citizens aged 20 years and older residing in the city of Maku. A cluster sampling technique was employed to select 115 residents of this city as the statistical sample. The data was gathered via questionnaire and analyzed utilizing the software programs SPSS and LISREL. In addition to Cronbach’s alpha statistics, composite reliability (CR), and confirmatory factor analysis were employed to validate the measurement models of the right to city factors.The examination of the eight components comprising the right to the city yielded the following conclusions social inclusion, social justice, urban participation, the right to urban health, belonging to the city, diversity, and urban vitality were validated, as indicated by their combined reliability exceeding 0.6, factor loadings surpassing 0.3, and t coefficients surpassing 1.96. However, the validity of the right to be distinct factor was not established, as the t-coefficient values of the remaining items in the factor’s measurement model were all below 1.96.The scale described, along with its components, possesses the capability to elucidate the framework of the right to the city. Moreover, this instrument can be employed to quantify the right to the city

The comprehension of public issues is critical for the implementation of development processes. Constantly confronted with these concepts, national, regional, and local managers must be able to address critical issues impacting the affairs of the people, such as civil engagement, social impacts, and regional development. This research's primary objective is to assist local public sector administrators in prioritizing public issues and making decisions regarding local development. Based on the aforementioned literature, the present study seeks to address the following inquiry: “What is the most effective framework for discerning and ranking public issues in order to enhance decision-making in the realm of development concepts?”The data collection phase was concluded by conducting interviews with authorities in the field of local development and employing a qualitative research design. The data that was gathered was subjected to theme analysis.The findings indicate: After classifying 180 fundamental themes into ten organizing themes and three universal themes, a three-dimensional matrix was produced. The purpose of this matrix is to investigate and rank the general issues as executive tools. Social culture, education and training, health, the economy and means of subsistence, moral systems and tendencies, thought and vision systems, behavioral systems, individuals, and ultimately the software dimension of resources comprise the themes.As a result of investigating the levels of local governance and gaining a deeper comprehension of rural development constraints, decision makers can reach more accurate conclusions. By utilizing a decentralized decision matrix system, decision makers at the local level are capable of comprehending and endeavoring to identify public issues, priorities, and ultimately constrained resources. A decentralized decision making process has been proposed in order to obtain a more effective method for identifying problems, comprehending their nature, analyzing the structure of society, investigating critical changes, and developing plans and actions.

Women's entrepreneurship encompasses cooperative and independent self-employment, employer involvement, as well as single-ownership and new business endeavors.The study employed a quantitative meta-analysis approach, utilizing purposive non-probability sampling to gather data from 2011 to 2022. Fifty documents out of a total of 87 studies comprised the statistical population. Documents were selected based on entry and exit criteria, which encompassed factors such as sample size, significance level, correlation coefficient, and research validity and quality.The results indicate that cultural elements (such as way of life, religious convictions, support for gender equality, participation in social networks, cultural poverty, cultural capital, patriarchal culture, collaborative culture, culture, and work ethic); psychological elements (including self-assurance, courageousness in undertaking risks, self-esteem, sense of social adequacy, perception of social discrimination, motivation for independence, aspiration for success and advancement, educational aptitude, and innovative and creative thinking); The research findings indicate that contextual factors exert the most significant influence on the entrepreneurial endeavors of rural women, as evidenced by an effect coefficient of 0.300. Findings Women's entrepreneurship is a subfield of entrepreneurship that, in addition to economic profit, seeks social and cultural benefits; it facilitates the identification of cultural, social, and economic contexts of society, the identification of social needs, and community recognition.

It is imperative to investigate the assessment of citizens regarding the quality of municipal services and the manner in which they are perceived as one of the most critical institutions of urban management. This is particularly critical in small Iranian cities such as Zahedan, which are subject to less oversight and are situated at a greater distance from public scrutiny than larger cities. The objective of the present study is to assess the quality and scope of municipal services in Zahedan, as well as the correlation between these factors and residents' satisfaction with the municipality’s performance.The present study employed a quantitative survey methodology. The field data utilized in this study was gathered via questionnaire during the spring and summer of 1400, spanning a duration of six months. The study’s statistical population comprises the inhabitants of Zahedan city, and a cluster sampling method consisting of multiple stages was employed. The sample size of 384 individuals was determined using Cochran's formula.The findings of the study indicated that the level of satisfaction regarding the municipality’s performance is suboptimal, with approximately 77% of the participants expressing very low levels of satisfaction. The inferential portion of the research findings revealed a significant correlation between organizational evaluation of satisfaction with the performance of the municipality and a variety of municipal service quality dimensions; the relationship has been direct and positive.The level of satisfaction that citizens have with the performance of a municipality can be perceived and evaluated by the public regarding the services provided by organizations such as the municipality. If the public evaluates these services positively, then the satisfaction level of the municipality can increase.

The issue of poverty has been the dominant discourse in Iran in the past decades; politicians often ascribe the cause and root of poverty to external factors and underestimate the role of internal factors in its spread. Understanding people's views about poverty can give social planners a better insight into the issue and their accepted values in order to reduce poverty. Therefore, the main goal of the present research is to identify the causes of poverty (i.e., deterministic, individualistic, structural) with reference to sociological and economic categories.The research employed a quantitative method and was conducted as a survey. The statistical population was based is the city of Isfahan. The required data was collected from a sample of 397 people using a researcher-made questionnaire. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using the SPSS and the pls structural equation model.contextual variables and the dimensions of objective and subjective poverty were found to account for 0.97 of the changes in the understanding of poverty along the three dimensions of individualism, constructivism and individualism. The better the financial status of the households, the more the explanation of poverty based on individualistic factors.Awareness of public opinion allows us to identify the image of socially marginalized people in our society as well as the kind of social policy criteria that the public considers legitimate. Proposed solutions to reduce poverty differ depending on whether people consider themselves to be objectively or mentally poor or non-poor.Deterministic understanding, structuralist understanding, individualistic understanding, subjective poverty, objective poverty understanding, Isfahan city

The architecture of all lands, including Iran, has always been in a deep connection with culture, and it can be seen as an expression of the thoughts and values of the society. One of the important periods of Iranian architecture is the Qajar period. The changes in the architecture of this period can be analyzed under the influence of two groups of external factors (Western influence) and internal. In this article, the focus is on internal factors and to obtain data related to the subject, the travelogues of Europeans who traveled to Iran during the Qajar period were used.The research method used in this article is the content analysis method, which is based on first-hand historical data, namely Ferangian travelogues who were in Iran during the Qajar period. For this purpose, 22 travelogues were used.According to the reports of tourists, one of the characteristic features of buildings in this period was their short life. In this article, this issue has been investigated in relation to cultural, social, political and governance conditions.By examining the data obtained from the travelogues according to the physical characteristics of the buildings and the cultural, political and social characteristics of that period, it is shown that unpredictability and insecurity in the society can indirectly affect the buildings and lead to the formation of a type of short-term architecture that It prepares the ground for being influenced by the architecture of other cultures and societies.

Education facilitates migration by increasing economic efficiency. Studies show that immigrants have higher education than non-immigrants. Migration of highly educated people can create changes in the composition of the population of origin and destination of migration.This study has investigated the effect of internal migration on the changes in the education level of the population of the counties and the gender differences of this effect by using the census data of 2011 and 2016 and the statistical yearbook of Iran Statistics Center in 2016 and with the method of secondary data analysis. To calculate the effect of migration the method of the Compositional Impact of migration was used.The findings showed that the biggest change was in the level of higher education of the population of women and men. The share of the population of men and women with higher education in developed counties has increased due to immigration, and the share of the population of men and women with higher education in less developed counties has decreased. Examining the gender differences showed that these changes were more in the female population of the counties than in the male population.The results of this study indicate that the existence of regional inequalities in access to educational and employment opportunities has led to the migration of women with higher education compared to men with higher education from less developed counties, especially from the semi-western and northeastern regions of Iran. Considering the importance of educated manpower in achieving economic and social growth and development, taking measures to develop less developed counties can provide the basis for increasing the speed of development of these areas by reducing the migration of educated people.