An Analysis of Interactions among Influential Factors Contributing to Social Participation in the Historic Bazaar of Tabriz through the Lens of Latour Actor-Network Theory: A Grounded Theory

The actor-network theory offers a new approach to solving a variety of problems such as social participation. This new approach sets a good platform to track the trajectory of human (people and the element of power) and inhuman (space) actors. In this model, to create social participation, it is necessary to establish a kind of power relations in which space also acts alongside the people and the institution of power.

The current study aims to analyze the process of interactions among the three elements of people, the institution of power and space, and explains its effect on social participation in the historic bazaar of Tabriz.

This research draws upon actor-network theory to examine human and nonhuman actors in the network using the qualitative method. The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature. To this end, the grounded theory method was used and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted (Data-driven methods). The data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 45 marketeers in the grand bazaar of Tabriz, experts, and authorities (city managers) as knowledgeable in this field.

Many problems associated with urban systems, including the structure of historic markets in Iran, arise from non-democratic actors such as lack of participation, violation of civil rights, lack of awareness, inflexibility in government decisions, and the decline in pluralism. The results of the research based on the evidence and interviews indicate that the improvement of the spatial component of Tabriz historic bazaar depends on raising the awareness of marketeers and creating a positive role for them in various decisions. This process needs to create equal opportunities to raise the awareness of the citizens and respect the position of the people, not as a problem but as a solution. However, in parallel with this, strengthening both economic structures and the sense of belonging play a double role.