Document Type : Case study
Authors
1
Assistant Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence Department, Bozorgmehr University of Qaenat, Qaen, Iran
2
Associate Professor of Geography & Urban Planning, Bozorgmehr University of Qaenat, Qaen, Iran
Abstract
Abstract
The increase in urbanization, the dissatisfaction of deprived and vulnerable people in cities and the increasing concern of international institutions in order to reduce inequalities have led to the formation of new approaches in urban planning such as the inclusive city. The inclusive city approach is aimed at equal distribution of resources and facilities among all city residents and the realization of citizen's rights, seeking to establish justice in urban areas. Considering the impact of inclusive city planning on the realization of citizenship rights, the present research was written with the aim of identifying the components of inclusive city development in Qaen city with emphasis on citizenship rights. In this regard, the research method is applied in terms of its objective and in terms of analytical-exploratory nature, and in order to analyze the data, were used structural equations based on variance with partial least squares method in Smart-pls software. The statistical population of the research also includes managers and city officials and university elites, and due to the unknown number of the statistical population, the sample size was determined using Cohen's method of 90 people. The findings of the research show that the highest impact on the realization of the inclusive city of Qaen with emphasis on citizenship rights related to civil, social, political and cultural components, with coefficients of 0.791, 0.724, 0.639 and 0.579 respectively. Among the sub-components, the most effective is related to the same implementation of laws for everyone, taking into account different strata and groups of society, creating opportunities for progress in life for everyone in different economic, social and personal dimensions, freedom of expression and opinion, and creating a basis for the formation of communities and the associations are for different classes and guilds in the field of pursuing their rights.
Keywords: Urban development, Inclusive city, Citizenship rights, Partial least squares method, Qaen city.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Concurrent with the global advancement of urbanization and the utilization of its associated benefits, governments are confronted with a variety of problems and challenges in establishing social justice and enhancing citizens’ rights in alignment with the fulfillment of citizenship rights. These challenges become particularly acute when vulnerable and marginalized groups are involved, as this issue is directly linked to the quality of governance exercised by governments.
Simultaneously, as these challenges intensify in urban areas, certain themes, concepts, and labels—such as inclusive cities, resilient cities, and sustainable cities—have gained considerable popularity. Each of these concepts is accompanied by distinct theoretical perspectives, empirical foundations, political orientations, and normative interpretations. Frequently, these notions are employed as urban brands serving political and commercial purposes.
Among them, the inclusive city represents an integrated approach that encompasses sustainability, resilience, accessibility, and cost-effective solutions aimed at addressing the challenges confronting underprivileged and vulnerable urban populations. This approach places particular emphasis on citizenship rights, enabling local governments and civil society organizations to draw upon its core principles to foster the development of human capital and ensure the long-term sustainability of cities.
Given the necessity of applying innovative approaches in contemporary urban planning and their significant influence on achieving sustainable development and citizenship rights, the primary objective of the present study is to formulate a model of the inclusive city for the city of Qaen, with special emphasis on indicators of citizenship rights.
Method
Given that the present study seeks to advance applied knowledge in the formulation of an inclusive city model grounded in citizenship rights indicators, it is classified as applied in terms of purpose and analytical-exploratory in terms of nature.
The research process commenced with a documentary review to identify the key components influencing the realization of an inclusive city, with particular emphasis on citizenship rights. Subsequently, the relative impact of each component was evaluated and analyzed through structured inquiries directed at urban managers and officials, as well as academic experts.
For data analysis, variance-based structural equation modeling was employed, utilizing the partial least squares (PLS) approach implemented in SmartPLS software.
It should be noted that, due to the absence of a clearly defined statistical population size, the required sample volume was determined using Cohen’s guidelines (commonly referring to power analysis tables or conventions for effect size, significance level, and desired power—typically set at a 95% confidence level. Accordingly, a sample size of 90 participants was established. The sampling procedure followed a snowball technique.
Results
The research findings indicate that, unfortunately, the urban management system in the city of Qaen does not possess the necessary effectiveness for the realization of an inclusive city and citizenship rights. The centralized approach in the city’s administrative system, coupled with the lack of stakeholder participation, has led to the formation of a vertical urban governance structure. Furthermore, the absence of economic diversity, spatial imbalances in the distribution of services and benefits, and the failure to consider the rights of various social groups in different plans and programs are regarded as fundamental obstacles to achieving an inclusive city and citizenship rights in Qaen.
In this regard, based on the findings, the components with the greatest impact on the realization of an inclusive city in Qaen—with emphasis on citizenship rights—are the civil, social, political, and cultural components, with coefficients of 0.791, 0.724, 0.639, and 0.579, respectively. Among the sub-components, the highest levels of influence pertain to: equal enforcement of laws for all, taking into account various strata and groups in society; creating opportunities for advancement in life for everyone across economic, social, and individual dimensions; freedom of expression and belief; and creating conditions for the formation of associations and organizations by different strata and occupational groups to pursue their rights.
Discussion and Conclusion
In the contemporary era, given the increasing inequalities at the urban level, the inclusive city approach has been proposed by international organizations as well as various scholars. This approach seeks to achieve a sustainable society through the equitable spatial distribution of services, benefits, resources, and facilities for all social strata, age groups, and genders. Furthermore, this approach, with an emphasis on the realization of citizens' rights, aims to enhance mental well-being and the quality of life in cities. Investigations in the city of Qaen reveal that this city suffers from fundamental deficiencies and barriers across various dimensions in achieving an inclusive city and, consequently, citizenship rights. Functional fragmentation among urban organizations, lack of transparency in programs, absence of appropriate horizontal and vertical relationships within the urban management system, and the lack of a holistic and comprehensive perspective have resulted in inadequate administration of the city and planning toward inclusivity. The dominance of a technocratic approach in the urban management system of Qaen has led to the prevalence of centralization, causing inter-organizational coordination and participation between urban organizations and citizens to be overlooked. Moreover, the failure to utilize flexible and forward-looking plans, inadequate identification and analysis of various variables, and insufficient capacity-building and feasibility assessments constitute other existing deficiencies in the city of Qaen. Therefore, it is necessary for the urban management system of Qaen to lay the groundwork for the development of an inclusive city and citizenship rights by creating equal opportunities for advancement in life for all across various dimensions, improving the quality of distribution of different services, diversifying the economy, eliminating discrimination among citizens in the enforcement of laws, emphasizing the public interest in various plans and programs, and benefiting from the participation and perspectives of citizens in city administration.
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