Sustainable urban management with emphasis on citizens' participation (Case study of District 8 of Tehran)

Dissertation for Master's Degree (M.Sc.)

Field: Geography and Urban Planning

Abstract

The 20th century has raised sustainable development as one of the most important paradigms of urban management at different levels due to the increase in urban population, changing lifestyles, and the distance between the stakeholders, managers and urban planners. One of the main dimensions of sustainable urban development is integrated urban management, good urban governance and participation.

One of the factors of achieving social growth is presence in social arenas and participation of citizens in urban management. Social participation leads to the flourishing of individual abilities and the improvement of the performance of city managers. Today, urban planners and policy makers consider the maximum attraction of people's participation as one of the optimal urban management strategies. Despite all the efforts made in Iran, until now the process of participation as a public culture in the thoughts and actions of citizens does not have a proper place or is weak. Participation as a social action is rooted in the beliefs, attitudes and social values ??of the people of the society, and in order to realize the participation of people, their trust, satisfaction and awareness must be gained in a suitable and secure environment, otherwise participation in its conceptual and sociological form will not emerge.

One of the newest styles and fields of participation is the participation of citizens in urban management in the direction of running cities. This participation is one of the requirements of modern social life and it is realized when the city dwellers change their identity from individualism to citizenship and population through the realization of citizenship rights. In this research, we examined the state of citizens' participation in the urban management of the 8th district of Tehran. This research is descriptive and analytical in terms of its practical purpose, development, and in terms of its method of implementation, and it is based on a library study and the completion of a questionnaire. First, by using scientific sources and documents, including books, domestic and foreign articles, websites, and master's and doctoral theses related to the research. Various observation and completion questionnaires have been prepared. Data analysis including two descriptive and analytical parts was done through spss software. The statistical population studied in this research consists of the residents of the 8th district of Tehran. The results show that the level of citizens' participation in the formation of sustainable urban management is at a low level, and the most important factor influencing the increase of citizens' participation is the model of good urban governance, and that planning to improve the level of citizens' participation in urban affairs should be prioritized in local development programs. Chapter 1: 1- Problem outline: The growing trend of population and urbanization and the occurrence of numerous social and economic problems on the one hand, and the ineffectiveness of urban development management and control methods on the other hand. It has created disorder and instability, which is the main cause of such disorder and instability is management challenges, among which is the lack of integrated urban management, and especially the lack of public participation management, which is based on the mutual action of all stakeholders and key players involved in urban development management. In the 20th century, due to the increase in the urban population, the change in lifestyle, the distance between the stakeholders, managers and urban planners, sustainable development has been proposed as one of the most important paradigms of urban management at different levels. The purpose of this development is to respond to the needs of different management levels at the same level and spatial integration and planning. One of the main dimensions of sustainable urban development is integrated urban management, good urban governance and participation. In other words, what ruled the urban management system of Iran was a centralized and top-down planning that could not solve the urban problems and satisfy the needs and wishes of the residents. For this reason, in the last few decades, planning and management with the participation of citizens has been proposed in the urban management system. Despite the long history of urbanization and the existence of traditional patterns in Iran, following the centralized planning and management model has not allowed the involvement and participation of citizens in the administration of city affairs. In such a situation, the urban management system is looking for ways to facilitate and improve the administration of city affairs in order to reduce the increasing problems and problems of urbanization.District 8 of Tehran is one of the 22 districts of the city, which is located between two east-west axes in the east of Tehran and consists of three districts and 20 neighborhoods. Based on the investigations carried out in the region, especially the comparative comparison of plans and programs, it should be said that the problems of urban management in the region and its roots from a strategic point of view are the following issues, such as planning without regard to implementation and the lack of participation of citizens in the plans. Therefore, it is necessary to study and know the ways of attracting the participation of citizens in the plans and administration of urban affairs and to provide appropriate solutions to promote the participation of citizens in the urban management system in the region. There is a way to achieve sustainable urban development. 1-2- The main research questions: Is the index of participation in urban management one of the most important reasons for the realization of sustainable urban management? Is the index of good urban governance related to sustainable urban management?

Urban Governance Index has a direct relationship with sustainable urban management.

1-4- Research Objectives

The purpose of presenting this thesis is to examine the available fields and facilities for benefiting from people's participation in urban administration. The researcher's effort is to understand the current situation in the light of valid theories and provide efficient and appropriate solutions to improve the state of citizens' participation in the urban management system of Region 8. 1-5- Research Methodology This thesis research method is based on quantitative data and the method is analytical-descriptive. Due to the nature of the subject under study and its scope, we use applied research. Dealing with a problem situation is the basis of applied research. A committed and thoughtful person is not indifferent in dealing with social issues and problems, but strives to find a solution to the problems.

1-6- Sampling

The statistical population of this research includes the residents of eight districts of Tehran Municipality, which was determined using Cochran's sampling formula and its amendment. The sample size of 400 questionnaires was determined. The number of people was estimated to be 383.77. In order to be more confident and improve the results of the work, the sample size was considered to be approximately 400 people, and the same number of questionnaires were prepared and the required information was collected through visiting the area and face-to-face interviews with the residents and officials of that area. And the data is processed, which will be done in two quantitative and qualitative ways. In the quantitative method, the collected data will be analyzed using descriptive statistical software such as Spss and Excel, and the results will be presented in different tables and graphs. In the qualitative method, according to the theoretical foundations of the problems, data analysis and examination of its various dimensions will be done. In the next step, conclusions and hypothesis testing will be done according to the results obtained, finally, several suggestions will be made according to the results obtained and the problems in the studied area. In urban development plans and providing optimal clarification of urban management activities for citizens, the elimination of government criteria for people's participation in urban management is taken into consideration.

2- In 2008 Masoumi's dissertation on the management of participatory development in the sustainable direction of the metropolis of Tehran, he sees the need of our urban society to create areas where citizens can participate in solving personal and public issues with peace of mind. This important part is not possible with public participation in urban management.

3- Saeed Rizvani in 2014, in his dissertation entitled "Participatory Urban Planning for the Spatial Planning of the City" seeks to find ways to attract citizens' participation in the administration of urban affairs and reduce the main obstacles to their participation.