Somayeh Zandieh; Mozafar Sarrafi
Abstract
Public interest has always been a controversial concept in spatial planning theories. The controversies over the concept imply a critical disagreement on what public interest is and if it exists at all. These have led to the development of multiple theories, challenging the legitimacy of planning. This ...
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Public interest has always been a controversial concept in spatial planning theories. The controversies over the concept imply a critical disagreement on what public interest is and if it exists at all. These have led to the development of multiple theories, challenging the legitimacy of planning. This article emphasizes the importance of addressing the question of public interest. However, it has not aimed to find an ultimate answer to the question; rather, it has focused on understanding the nature of the disagreements on this concept through the formulation of the different responses to this question. Accordingly, it has put its finger on the various ontological perspectives on the relation between the social and the individual by applying the meta-synthesis method and aimed to understand the trace of these perspectives on the conceptualization of public interest in the twelve most influential traditions on planning theory and practice. The article indicates the dominance of four approaches to the public interest in spatial planning, including individualism, universalism, pluralism, and critical tradition. In terms of these approaches, the article has addressed three questions: what is the nature of the relation between the social and the individual; what does constitute the public interest; and how does the so-called public interest actualize, especially in spatial planning?
Kiana Etemadi; Mozafar Sarrafi; Sahar Nedae Tousi
Abstract
Creating free trade zones (FTZs), special economic zones (SEZs), or export processing zones (EPZs) are some of the regional development policies to enhance the community capacities to meet the needs. However, these zones had mainly encountered “island development” with the distribution of ...
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Creating free trade zones (FTZs), special economic zones (SEZs), or export processing zones (EPZs) are some of the regional development policies to enhance the community capacities to meet the needs. However, these zones had mainly encountered “island development” with the distribution of the region’s minimal works. So, the development in the multidimensional sense has not yet occurred in the life situation of the local community. In this context, the purpose of the research was to explain the development impact of the Chabahar Free Zone in the pervasive zone (the Makran Region), measuring by the semi-experimental method consecutively. First, the conceptual and measurement models, including criteria and indicators, were defined as a result of the documentary meta-synthesis and interviews. Then they were evaluated by the statistical and spatial data at different times before and after constructing the free zone. To this end, research results are validated by interviews with actors. Finally, the strategic suggestions are provided by Meta–SWOT technique to promote the effect of the Chabahar Free Zone. Results state that with the construction of this region, some capacities have been made for development. Having no long-term planning and social cohesion from the beginning resulted in some unpleasant phenomena such as social segregation and uneven development. The trade zone is expected to spread the development to the pervasive region has become a problem causing the flock to the city, unable to meet the inhabitants’ expectations.
