Urban and Regional Development Planning
Abozar Qaseminejad; Mohsen Shabestar; Aliasqar Esmaeilzadeh
Abstract
In contemporary society, marginalization has emerged as a significant social issue, imposing formidable barriers to social development. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the causal and contextual factors contributing to the stagnation of social development among marginalized residents of ...
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In contemporary society, marginalization has emerged as a significant social issue, imposing formidable barriers to social development. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the causal and contextual factors contributing to the stagnation of social development among marginalized residents of Pakdasht and Qiyam-Dasht. The study population consists of individuals residing in the marginalized areas of Pakdasht and Qiyam-Dasht, who were purposively and theoretically sampled. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 38 residents from these areas, with the criterion of theoretical saturation determining the termination of interviews. The data analysis followed the grounded theory method, employing the Straussian approach. The research findings reveal the causal conditions for the suspension of social development, including mutual irreversibility, transient and instrumental actions, weak self-concept, intergenerational perpetuation of poverty, and limited access to resources. Furthermore, the grounds contributing to the stagnation of social development manifest through categories such as divergent roles, gaps in social awareness, inadequate resource availability and reference groups, erosion of family boundaries, and institutional distrust. The outcomes illuminate that the mosaic structure of these regions has been shaped by ethnic conflicts and identity clashes. The dominance of ethnic pursuits, stemming from these conflicts and regressive ideologies, has hindered societal convergence. Furthermore, identity conflicts, exacerbated by profound inequalities, have impeded the adaptation of these ethnic groups to the modern world, particularly in the context of Tehran. Consequently, individuals in these areas tend to engage in transient and utilitarian actions, limiting the establishment of sustainable social interactions and impeding social development.
Introduction
Currently, within the realm of development, new themes have emerged that underscore the significance of people and their social capabilities. The prominence and position of social development as one of the four dimensions of development (including social, economic, cultural, and political dimensions) becomes evident when studying the progress of development theory and initiatives. This evolution represents a shift from a primary focus on economic aspects to encompass cultural and social dimensions. The emphasis on quantitative measures has been superseded by the concept of "human development" and a greater consideration of its comprehension and implementation. Theoretical and empirical advancements substantiate that social development is a pivotal element of development, characterized by inherent requisites. To achieve this, it necessitates governmental policy-making and planning, which are integral to the overall pursuit of development. Equally vital is the extent to which the society and its citizens (particularly marginalized populations) comprehend, embrace, and incorporate these policies and programs into their daily lives. This study sets out to address this latter aspect, aiming to gain insights into the social development dynamics among the marginalized residents of Pakdasht and Qiyamdasht areas. Specifically, it seeks to explore how the experiences of marginalization have influenced their understanding of social development and shaped their social actions within their daily lives. Employing a qualitative, deep, and comprehensive approach, this study will examine the social development among marginalized individuals, shedding light on diverse dimensions through an exploration of their lived experiences.
Literature Review
Prior research has extensively examined social development across various dimensions, including women's participation (Allen, 1985; Boland, 1987; Glicken, 1979; Thomas and Sina, 2009), education (Bradshaw and Graham, 2007; Resnik, 1997), local communities (Daly and Winter, 1978; Velosky and Monroe, 2009), and others. Moreover, several studies have addressed the assessment of social development rankings within Hamedan province's cities (Zofari et al., 2009), the examination of social development indicators and rankings across the country's provinces (Firouzabadi et al., 2010), the investigation into Iran's social development indicators and international position (Fazli et al., 2012), the exploration of human and social development indicators (Gay et al., 2017), the assessment of Iran's current social development status (Riahi, 2010), the examination of dimensions within social development theory (Jacobs and Cleveland, 2007), the identification of dimensions and components within the five development programs (Jaghtai et al., 2015), the analysis of social development in Tehran city (Asgharpour Masoleh et al., 2013), the adoption of a social development approach in poverty alleviation programs in Iran (Qanai-Rad, 2004), and the conceptualization and measurement of social development (Madani and Roshfekr, 2014), among others.
Furthermore, there have been studies conducted by foreign and domestic researchers that focus on the perspective of marginalized individuals themselves. For instance, studies such as Martin's exploration in 2000 in Lima, Tupac, Perlman's investigation in 2010 in Argentina and Rio de Janeiro, Safa's analysis in 1974 in Puerto Rico, San Juan, Oiro's examination in 1988 in Argentina, Ghanem's study in 1997 in Cairo, Sharma's research in 1991 in Sarga, India, Piran's work in 1373, Ismaili and Omidi's inquiry in 2011 in Islamabad, Parsapzoh's study in 1381 in Islamabad, and Pereghi et al.'s investigation in 1383 in Isfahan provide valuable insights into the phenomenon of marginalization. It should be noted that unlike the aforementioned studies that primarily focused on social development, these studies delved into the complexities of marginalization.
Methodology
This scholarly research study employed a qualitative approach, adopting a data-based strategy. The targeted population consisted of all adult citizens aged 18 and above residing in the marginalized regions of Pak-Dasht and Qiyam-Dasht, from which a sampling process was implemented. It is worth noting that, based on information provided by the municipality and governorate, these regions encompass eight districts within the city of Pakdasht, while being limited to a single district in Qiyam-Dasht. However, it is important to highlight that the selection of interview participants was not solely based on the criteria set forth by the municipality and governorate. This is because certain locations, despite exhibiting characteristics associated with marginalization in social, economic, and physical terms, were not officially classified as such. Additionally, the researcher's understanding and identification of the extent of marginalization in specific cases differed from the mappings provided by official coordinates. To ensure a purposive and theoretical sampling, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with a total of 38 residents living in the aforementioned areas.
Results
This study delves into the bottlenecks of social development among marginalized communities, adopting an internal and micro-level perspective. The rapid growth of Pakdasht and Qiyam-Dasht has had profound impacts on the environmental and social dynamics of the region, manifesting in various forms. Particularly in Pakdasht, the presence of diverse ethnic groups contributes to the existence of distinct customs. However, due to the marginalized status of a significant portion of the population, these customs are not prominently observed. Consequently, a pervasive condition has emerged, characterized by income poverty, as well as social and cultural impoverishment. This predicament engenders insurmountable contradictions when confronted with the prevailing inequalities within the metropolis of Tehran. Daily life revolves primarily around livelihood pursuits and aspiring to attain essential societal values such as adequate housing, good health, and quality education. Unfortunately, these circumstances often undermine individuals' ability to engage in purposeful actions aimed at fostering a renewed sense of community and belonging within their place of residence. Moreover, the actions taken in this context are chiefly driven by individual rationality and economic cost-benefit considerations. Consequently, the social dimension is inadvertently sidelined, despite its pivotal role in shaping social development and the potential to establish new foundations for personal identity based on collective accomplishments.
