Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 PhD in Architecture, Faculty of Engineering science, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
2 MA. in Urban Design, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran
Abstract
Over the past three decades, market-driven dynamics have profoundly influenced the Iranian housing system, leading to significant commodification of housing. This commodification has exacerbated housing unaffordability, particularly for low-income households, despite a substantial increase in the overall housing stock. Furthermore, market forces have contributed to the spatial segregation of various social groups during this period. Theoretically, state intervention in the housing market—through initiatives such as social housing programs—has the potential to enhance the affordability of formal housing and mitigate social stratification. The Maskan-i-Mehr program was conceived and implemented to address the shortcomings of the Iranian housing market. However, this social housing initiative has failed to effectively counteract the prevailing market dynamics, resulting in the emergence of numerous marginalized communities. Residents of Maskan-i-Mehr now experience heightened social and spatial segregation compared to their prior living conditions. Many have relocated from urban centers to the peripheries, where Maskan-i-Mehr estates are situated. This transition has led to the marginalization of these residents, adversely affecting their livability and overall social conditions. By focusing on the Maskan-i-Mehr developments in the new towns of Pardis and Parand, this paper seeks to evaluate how contemporary social housing programs in Iran have fostered a “new social life in new communities.” Specifically, it aims to investigate how the livability conditions for individuals who migrated to these new communities have significantly transformed.
Keywords: Market-based Dynamics, Maskan-i-Mehr Program, Marginalization, Social-Spatial Segregation, Metropolitan Area of Tehran.
Introduction
Over the past three decades, the Iranian housing system has experienced substantial changes; however, it has largely failed to adequately address the housing needs of many low-income households. A critical issue lies in the inappropriate commodification of the formal housing market, which has overlooked the fundamental requirements of disadvantaged demographics. This oversight has resulted in a persistent deficit of affordable and adequate housing options. Despite a significant expansion in the housing stock, a considerable unmet demand persists, leading to a pronounced housing gap. Market-driven dynamics have exerted considerable influence on the Iranian housing landscape during this period, with commodification rendering housing increasingly unaffordable, particularly for low-income families. Additionally, these market forces have contributed to the spatial segregation of various social groups. Theoretically, state intervention through social housing programs could mitigate the adverse impacts of market dynamics, reconfigure existing institutions, and enhance overall housing affordability.
The Maskan-i-Mehr program was established to address these housing deficiencies and to fulfill the unmet needs of the population. Initiated in the mid-2000s, in the wake of increased oil revenues, the program aimed to provide affordable housing for economically marginalized families. However, despite the construction of over two million housing units, the program's effectiveness has been limited. Bureaucratic inefficiencies and deregulation have led to the re-commodification of Maskan-i-Mehr housing, thereby restricting access for many low-income households. The 2013 deregulation marked a significant shift towards free-market principles, heavily influenced by powerful real estate interests, further complicating the housing landscape. While Maskan-i-Mehr introduced a distinct housing segment separate from informal practices, it has also engendered new communities characterized by unique social dynamics. Residents often encounter a markedly altered quality of life compared to their previous circumstances. This paper contends that the peripheral locations of these communities have contributed to both spatial segregation and social isolation.
This article explores two interrelated questions: First, how has the Maskan-i-Mehr program exacerbated spatial and social segregation in Tehran and its peripheries? Second, what social tensions have emerged within these newly established communities? To address these inquiries, it is imperative to analyze the social strata and economic conditions of Maskan-i-Mehr residents and to understand how their relocation has transformed their everyday social interactions.
Literature Review
The theoretical framework of this article integrates various concepts pertinent to social and spatial segregation. We commence by reviewing the concept of segregation as it is defined within contemporary urban sociology. Following this foundational discussion, we engage with relevant theories that investigate the effects of segregation on the livability and social quality of affected communities.
Spatial segregation emerges as an inescapable phenomenon within market-based economies. In numerous contemporary cities globally, the dynamics of capitalism act as primary catalysts for the perpetuation of social-spatial segregation across both urban and regional contexts. When these market dynamics operate unchecked, the process of segregation is exacerbated, resulting in pronounced socio-economic divides.
In market-driven economies, housing is commodified, rendering it one of the most significant and costly assets for the average household. This commodification results in higher-quality housing and more desirable locations being accessible primarily to affluent families. Over time, the forces of market dynamics foster a gradual categorization of neighborhoods according to specific social classes, thereby entrenching disparities in access to resources and opportunities. As wealthier families occupy more desirable areas, low-income households are increasingly relegated to segregated neighborhoods characterized by inadequate essential services. This spatial marginalization ultimately detrimentally affects their quality of life and social mobility.
Methodology
This article utilizes the ASID analytical model to investigate the dynamics of socio-spatial segregation within the metropolitan area of Tehran, particularly as they relate to the Maskan-i-Mehr program. Developed by Moulaert and Jessop (2007) as part of the DEMOLOGOS project, the ASID model—encompassing "Agency," "Structure," "Institution," and "Discourse"—serves as a methodological framework for comprehending the complexities inherent in urban and regional development. It enables a multi-scalar analysis of socio-economic restructuring and institutional transformations.
By employing the ASID framework, this article seeks to identify the factors within Iran's housing system that have influenced and reshaped the spatial order of urban environments, while also assessing whether the Maskan-i-Mehr program has exacerbated these spatial dynamics. The objective is to elucidate the behaviors, or the absence thereof, during the program's implementation that have contributed to the segregation of communities in both Tehran and its peripheral areas. In the context of contemporary Iranian urban development, segregation is evident through the emergence of distinct communities that are populated by different social classes based on income levels.
To evaluate the impacts of social-spatial segregation, this study specifically examines the Maskan-i-Mehr estates situated in the new towns of Pardis and Parand. These locations are particularly significant as they represent the two largest Maskan-i-Mehr estates in Iran, making them ideal case studies. The research methodology involved extensive fieldwork, encompassing in-depth interviews and surveys to capture various dimensions of social life within these new communities. Through this empirical approach, the article aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the social dynamics at play in the Maskan-i-Mehr developments and their role in reinforcing or challenging existing patterns of segregation.
Results & Discussion
In this article, we argue that the social dynamics within the new communities established by the Maskan-i-Mehr program occupy a complex intersection of formality and informality. Unlike informal market housing, which is characterized by its responsiveness to the economic needs of low-income families and its flexible construction processes, Maskan-i-Mehr lacks these defining features. While the program is constructed and regulated within a formal framework, it has nonetheless contributed to the marginalization and peripheralization of its residents—conditions typically associated with informal housing in Iran. Moreover, the quality of housing provided under this program is frequently substandard, and residents often face significant barriers to accessing essential services.
This article also investigates how the proliferation of social housing in the peripheral areas of Tehran over the past decade has reshaped the socio-spatial landscape of the city. We examine the notion of a "new social life" among middle-income families residing in Maskan-i-Mehr projects, critically assessing whether the program has genuinely improved their living conditions in regions such as Pardis and Parand.
Central to our analysis is the tension experienced by these residents as they navigate conflicting demands arising from their adaptation to an environment that markedly differs from their previous living situations. Our findings indicate that the livability and overall quality of social life for individuals who have relocated to Maskan-i-Mehr have, in fact, deteriorated. This decline is intricately linked to the socio-spatial segregation encountered by these inhabitants, thereby illuminating the complexities inherent in their new community life.
Conclusion
The marginalization experienced by residents of the Maskan-i-Mehr program, while less severe than that seen in many informal settlements on the periphery of Tehran, has nonetheless resulted in a level of social and spatial segregation that these individuals had not encountered prior to their relocation. Many of the program’s residents transitioned from urban areas to peripheral communities, a move that has had a detrimental impact on their livability and social well-being. Maskan-i-Mehr constitutes approximately 7% to 9% of Iran's overall housing stock and has fostered the emergence of a "new social life" within its communities, a phenomenon previously unseen in the country. This program has effectively created a lower tier within the formal housing market, which can be conceptualized as a "twilight segment." This segment occupies a liminal space between formal and informal housing, exhibiting a complex duality that reflects the intertwined characteristics of both market types. This "twilight segment" underscores the blurred boundaries between regulated formal housing and the marginalized conditions often associated with informality.
Keywords
- Market-based Dynamics
- Maskan-i-Mehr Program
- Marginalization
- Social-Spatial Segregation
- Metropolitan Area of Tehran
Main Subjects
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