STUDYING THE EFFECTIVE FACTORS ON POPULAR PARTICIPATION IN URBAN AFFAIRS: CASE STUDY OF KHASH CITY

RIJS Volume 2, Issue 8 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 2250 – 3994

Journal of Radix International Educational and Research Consortium

1 | P a g e www.rierc.org

STUDYING THE EFFECTIVE FACTORS ON POPULAR PARTICIPATION IN URBAN

AFFAIRS: CASE STUDY OF KHASH CITY

Gholam Reza Miri Masoumeh Hafez Reza Zadeh Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Geography and Urban Planning Department Geography and Urban Planning Department Islamic Azad University of Zahedan Islamic Azad University of Zahedan

Leili Oveisi Khaled Kord M.A Student of Geography and Urban Planning Msc, Geography Department Islamic Azad University1of Zahedan Aligarh Muslim University, India

ABSTRACT

Today in urban planning .popular participation is one of the essential needs, so that all confirm this point

that participation in practice considers a season of development .popular participation has such credit in

the development procedure that know development equal to participation .The recent research has been

provided by the aim of analysis of the effective factors on popular participation in urban affairs (case

:Khash )and according to findings and results of field study of four-side regions of Khash city .The method

of information collection has based on library, document ,and also field(questionnaire)and kind of

research has been applied – developmental .for analysis and decomposition of data , SPSS Software has

been used .The used statistical methods are Kendal ,multi-variable Regression and spearman .The results

show ,the evaluation of citizens from their participations was negative in the society plan and indicates

that haven’t such share in urban projects ,The performed studies indicate that economical and social

situation is decisive on their participations in urban plans and it was revealed by studying social and

economical variables that the amount of participation has promoted by improving the social and

economical condition and can develop it in long-term.

Key Words: participation, development, Urban planning, SPSS, Khash city

1Responsible writer : Email:[email protected] This paper is taken from M.A thesis as the effective factors on popular participation in urban affairs (case study of khash city)

A Journal of Radix International Educational and

Research Consortium

RIJS

RADIX INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SOCIAL SCIENCE




1. INTRODUCTION

1-1 Design Of Problems

The most important and biggest investment of each society is human sources that there are the special

methods for its exploitation .Participation seeking is one of the mental needs and resulted from respect to

human. participation in popular life has been considered a natural right ,it has identified in urban

management in the recent decades ( Mosaei and Razavi Alhashem, 2010 ,124).Participation has current

in affair series containing cultural and social values (Alen Bierw ,1991:18) ,1960 shared for

excitement resulting from de colonialism and political independence of third-world countries ,

internal dynamic of development , the importance of popular movements and then participation

(kaotri,2000; 1) The concept of popular participation has attended by reason of increasing emphasis

on involving people in decision-makings and regarding the importance of people ideas in

development planning in the world (Seif Aldini 148:1989) Khash city had population equivalent to

57298 individuals in 2011( Iran statistic center :2011) The increase of population and the difficulty

from horizontal and disharmonic growth ,unemployment and poverty ,false employment, lack of

sufficient security ,low quality of life and the distance from political center on the one hand and

lack of acquaintance of citizens with their civil rights and lack of appropriate giving service in

various urban grounds from urban managers by reason of lack of credits ,it has been led to

decrease of social equity and economical injuries and service in adequacy in its location on the other

hand ,The participation is low for traditional field and ethnic tribal culture , if we seek practical

solution for removing problems and inadequacies of Khash city ,certainly ,without attention to

participation procedure won`t reach to desired result because popular participation is undeniable in

urban affairs in urban development , researcher tries to measure the amount of civil participation to

study the effective factors on their participation and present strategies for the more participation of

Khash people .

1-2 Materials And Methods

To perform case researches, researcher must make questionnaire by Likert method and then used SPSS for

analysis and decomposition of data .The results have used in two descriptive and inferred statistics .In

descriptive statistics has been used graphs and tables of frequency distribution and also central indices

like mean and median ,In inferred statistics , proportion to the kind of hypothesizes and measurement

level of variables have been used statistical tests of spearman and Pearson's correlation coefficient ,test of

mean comparison , variance analysis test , multiple Regression analysis and analysis of path.

1-3 Research Hypothesizes

1. It looks that the participation rate of Khash citizens is low in performing urban designs.




2. There is a meaningful relationship between economical, social, cultural factors and the amount of

popular participation in urban affairs of Khash city.

1-4: The Purposes Of Research

1. Studying participation rate of citizens in affairs related to Khash city and its effective factors.

2. The recognition of obstacles and difficulties in the paths of related activities, to the participation of

Khash people

3. Attraction of decision- makers and urban managers and Khash citizens to important problem of citizen

participation

4. Finally presenting solutions and strategies that have promoted popular participation and permutes

responsibility in performing urban projects to reach desired development of city.

1-5: Past Records Of Popular Participations In Urban Planning

The record of participation thoughts in urban decision – making turns back to Athens prism in 1933.But its

objective emergence was observed in 80 decade .participation urban development and contemporary

participation returns early 1940s that was usual in survey from of people for providing urban society

projects .Although this popular participation was in elementary base but people could reflect their idea

and suggestions in writing to officers and in fact was used level of participation as giving information way

and advising (Ziari et.al 382:2009) civil participation has been ranging subject in planning district ,urban

planners try to inform in decision –making of citizen ideas and perform their plans by their participation

,namely general support from decision –making from officers causes they perform their plans (Abbas

Zadeh 1998:72) In the late 1950 s, the concept of participation and participation development is as

important concept in economical development discussions and is proposed following failure of economical

planning (Moradi, 2001,12)urban planning are inclined towards) common patterns of hierarchical decision

–making ,network structure , structural-spatial organization .In 1960 s that is very important in formation

of philosophical thoughts and theoretical basics and knowledge and action has been far from long time

planning in government and inclines towards short time gradual democratic planning (Mehdi Zadeh

et.al,2006,93)formed by David off and Rainer, The efforts was started for improvement of urban

environment by voluntary participation of citizens(( cover from movement of Zibata city in fighting hovels

or old and poor region and after it(( Abdi Daneshpour 2009,337)In this period popular participation is

proposed in all phases of preparation ,studying and performing plans and un separated component of

planning procedure and gradually in legally and necessarily in urban planning of west(Moradi,2001,13)In

1970 s development purpose ((human-based )) was access to essential needs of human by economical

slump and energy crisis in original world that takes the importance of popular participation in all levels of

decision –making in determination of goals and needs and point out implementation ,supervision and

evaluation of plans.1980 s has been steady development and preservation of environment and

participation that can effect on environment and strengthen steady development The last decade of

twentieth century is human development and necessity of usage and institutionalize popular participation

in steady development procedure( Arjomand Nia,2001:30) Today the last ideas about participation




specifies that government and people are partners that divide work the researchers tested various theories

in the field of participation in the recent years and have developed and evolved participation theory to

reach participation theory (Matoof,1999:51) In Iran, the record of civil participation in urban affairs can

consider to constitutionality as new initiation in civil participation .urban management emerges with new

form to this period and after it in managing affairs of cities(Saeed Nia, 2003:129) They approved The rule of

state and province association. The first election period of councils was hold in 1997 and the second

election period of councils hold in 2002 that the selection of mayor, legislation in the context of social –

economical–civil–cultural needs includes these powers (Hekmat Nia and Moosavi,2006:121) Finally ,by

emergence of social phenomenon of popular participation plays an important role as reaction against

governmental systems and has constructive role seek to reach steady social development and fulfill the

purposes of government.

1-6 The Brief Initiation Of Case Study Region

Khash city by area about 23105 kilometre squares , one of the cities of Sistan and Baluchistan province has

been located on the eastern south of Iran .The distance of this city to the center of province (Zahedan) is

175 kilometres .This city has 2 urban centers and 3 districts and 11 villages and 799 helmets (Iran statistic

center:2011) on the basis of the results of General population and Housing census in 2011) the population

of khash city has been about 57298.Among them 28693 individuals ,have been men and 28605 individuals ,

have been woman .The studying the procedures of population evolutions during 1976-2011 shows that

the population in this period 35 years has been about 7 times and from 8236 individuals in 1355 has

reached to 57298 in 2011.

TABLE No. 1: POPULATION AND MEAN ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF KHASH CITY IN 1976-2011

Description The number of population Average annual growth rate (percent)

Khash 2011 2006 1996 1986 1976 76-2011 2006-

2011

96-2006 86-96 76-86

57298 57811 38924 20228 8236 6/71 Negative 4/03 6/77 9/4

Source : writer

2. CONCEPTS, IMPLICATIONS) IDEAS AND THEORETICAL BASICS

2-1 Participation Concept

Participation term verbally means involvement and assembly for special purpose (Alavi Tabar 2000:15).By

acceptance of this concept we can say that participation is mental and emotional involvement in group

situations that motivates it to help each other for acceptance of popular purposes and shares in

responsibility of work (Nozar poor2001:4) In means their voluntary and involuntary participation in

development process .popular participation in the development procedure has such credit that they have

known development equivalent to participation (Ebrahim Zadeh,1998 :2)participation means near




involvement of people in effective economical ,social ,cultural ,political processes on their life participation

rate of people in democratic society is defined by meritocracy criterion according their willing In

management science ((involvement of action and impressionability are considered the main essences of

participation )) (Mir Moosavi, 1996:25) In social psychology ((participation is the mental phenomenon

that can`t be the part of popular culture without effective and open –way philosophy)) (Mohseni

Tabrizi,1994:51).Participation in action is a season of development as they sometimes know development

equals participation , thus the development won`t implement unless people encourage to promote their

life level(Badri and Nemati,2009:17) Increasing urban population and far away from civil participation in

plans and projects is a form that the role of citizens is very low .while proportion of answer and adjustment

of management in cities depends on their relationship with community to transfer reality ,ideas,

applications ,suggestion inside formed institution (Mc Lough Lin 1973:248).

2-2 Participative Urban Planning

Popular participation includes the essential process that try to satisfy group individual mental needs wisely

and with awareness ,will and desire and by acceptance of part of its responsibility group and they try to

reach pre-determined(goals according to priority real needs and consider possibilities and limitations to

find individual and communicative identity in society .we will have participative urban planning if we

consider the bounds of participation and provide kind of process ,looking planning with participative frame

work and interfere factors such as social equity law ,steady development(Fainstein 1996:20).

3: ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION

To perform case researches, first researcher uses from self-designed questionnaire with Likert method. For

this purpose, 400 questionnaires including 43 questions distributed regarding the population of4-

directional region the questions have been proposed according to hypothesizes. For this purpose, it has

been used variables such as: cultural, social and economic features of Khash citizens including: age, sex,

education level, occupation, inflation, religion and so on.

3-1 Descriptive Results

3-1-1 studying participation rate of citizens in urban plans in region 1

The results of studying the participation rate of citizens in developmental plans of region one indicates this

subject that from 80 sample individuals, 25 individuals have indicated lack of participation of citizens in

urban plans and 22: individuals have selected low participation, 21 individuals selected medium

participation and 12 individuals selected high participation, thus, civil participation is low in urban planning

(diagram No.1)




DIAGRAM NO .1: PARTICIPATION RATE OF CITIZENS IN REGION 1 OF KHASH

Source : writer

3-1-2: The Measurement Of Civil Participation In Urban Plans Of Region 2

has measured that the obtained results of this research indicate that from 115 samples of this region ,26

individuals(23 percent) have indicated lack of civil participation ,43 individuals(37 percent) of respondents

have shown low participation of citizens, 30 individuals (26 percent) have indicated medium participation ,

16 persons (14 percent) have shown high participation therefore we can say that citizen participation in

developmental plans of the city is low in this region.

DIAGRAM NO.2: PARTICIPATION RATE OF CITIZENS IN REGION 2 OF KHASH

Source: writer

3-1-3 Studying Participation Rate Of Citizens In Urban Planning In Region 3:

By studying participation rate of citizens in region 3,the below results are obtained:23 respondents (22

percent) have selected without participation ,39 individuals(37 percent) have selected low participation of

citizens in urban plans and 37 individuals (29 percent) and 14 persons (13 percent)selected medium and

high participation respectively we can conclude that more than half of studied samples in region 3 have

indicated medium to low participation in urban plans, thus civil participation is low in this region.




DIAGRAM NO.3: THE MEASUREMENT OF PARTICIPATION RATE OF CITIZENS IN REGION 3 OF KHASH

Source: writer

3.1.4 : Studying The Participation Rate Of Citizens In Urban Planning In Region 4

The obtained results from studying the participation rate of citizens in urban plans in region four show that

from total 100 samples, 35 respondents (31 percent) have indicated lack of participation of citizens, 26

individuals (28 percents) indicated low participation, 22 persons (24 percent) indicated medium

participation, 17 individuals (17 percent) indicated high participation , thus , we can say that citizen

participation is low in urban plans in region four (graph no.4).

DIAGRAM NUMBER4: THE MEASUREMENT OF PARTICIPATION RATE OF CITIZENS IN REGION 4 KHASH CITY

Source: writer

3-1-5 The Participation Of Unemployed Groups In Urban Activities

Question ((To what extent unemployed people participate in urban affairs according to you?)) It is

mentioned among them most respondents (22percent) have indicated medium option and the least

respondent (10 percents) indicate very low.(diagram number5)




DIAGRAM NO.5: THE PARTICIPATION OF UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE IN URBAN ACTIVITIES

Source: writer

3-1-6: The Attraction Of Participation In Statistical Society

In the other question, citizen ideas about Which one of below tools is effective in the attraction of

popular participation has studied that (30 percent) respondents have selected local officers option ,(15

percents) people encouragement from officers,(20 percent) , question and answer meetings (20 percent)

surveying officers from the people and (15 percent) education and dissemination of information in the

area.

DIAGRAM NO.6: THE ATTENTION OF CASE STUDIED SAMPLE PARTICIPATION

Source: writer

3-1-7 : The Participation Of Age Groups

The ideas of citizens have studied about participation of age groups. The obtained results show that

(45percent) of respondents have selected (35percent) adults and (20percent) old people .




DIAGRAM NUMBER7: THE PARTICIPATION OF AGE GROUPS

Source: writer

3-1-8 : The Participation Of Native And Non-Native People

The performed studies from citizen ideas about participation rate of native and non-native people in urban

affairs indicate that the participation rate of native people in developmental affairs of the city is (71

percent), while the results of research indicate that this rate in non-native people is just 29 percent.

Therefore, there is a relationship between social factors and participation.

DIAGRAM NO.8: PARTICIPATION PERCENT IN NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE PEOPLE

Source: writer

3-1-9 : Studying Participation Of Women And Men In Urban Affairs

The ideas of citizens in connection with the participation amount of men and women in urban

developmental affairs have studied .The results of research indicate that most of women respondents (40

percent) have selected low choice and (6 percent) of them selected very high choice .The most of men

respondents (27 percent) have indicated low choice and (13 percent) indicated very high choice .Therefore




woman participation is not significant and the effect of social factors in popular participation in

developmental affairs is undeniable.

DIAGRAM NUMBER9: STUDYING MEN AND WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN URBAN AFFAIRS

3-1-10 Studying Inflation And Economical Problems And Its Effect On Popular Participation

The ideas of citizens about the effect of inflation and its economic problems on popular participation have

studied .The obtained results show that the most respondents(32 percent) have indicated very high choice

and(24 percent) indicated high choice .As a result ,The more inflation is the less participation and will

follow undesired consequences (diagram no.10)

DIAGRAM NO.10: STUDYING THE EFFECT OF INFLATION AND ITS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS ON POPULAR

PARTICIPATION.

Source: writer

3-2 : Inferred Results

By studying the participation rate of citizens in urban affairs, the researcher has resulted that the more

participation rate of citizens in urban affairs, the more satisfaction of citizens will be. For measurement of

variables has been used Spearman test and for determination of connection between variables has been

used ranking measurement level. Considering that calculated meaningful level (sig=0/000) is lesser than

case significant level (a=0/05) .This result is obtained that there is a significant relationship between

satisfaction rate of citizens from presenting services with their participation rate in urban developmental

affairs.




TABLE NO.2 : KENDAL TEST FOR STUDYING RELATIONSHIP OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.

Percentage of possession

Participation percent

Low medium high Kendal's correlation coefficient

Very low 3/4 56/2 40/4 Kendal tau-b

R=0/48

Sig = 0/000

Low 2/6 40/3 57/1

Medium 1/5 50 48/5

High 6/3 8 85/7

Very high 1/9 11/1 87

Source: writer

Table no.3:r test for studying relationship between satisfaction of citizens with participation rate

Significant level Test value Test name

000/0 r=42/0 Spearman`s correlation

Source=writer

4-CONCLUSIONS

After scientific and surveying study in case fields in four –side regions of Khash city, the below results have

obtained:

1-The obtained studies indicate that the most participations answered to low participation of citizens in

urban plans and believed that doesn`t use in urban plans .While the evaluation of citizens has been from

positive participation consequences and the most citizens believed that can effect on urban management

by their participation.

2-from analysis of data can result that there is a significant relationship between belonging feel to place of

residence and participation rate variables`. It means citizens feel belonged to their residence place. Most

citizens don`t have such feeling, has been interested in participation in urban affairs and the obtained

results indicate that there is a strong and significant relationship, namely (77 percent)

3-The obtained results show that there is a relationship between economics, social and cultured situation

and their participation rate in urban affairs. It means the more strong economic, cultural and social base,

the more participation will be.

5-STRATEGIES

According to the obtained results from present research, to increase the participation rate of citizens,

strategies present in developmental affairs of the city as follows:

1- Survey of citizens in respect to performing urban plans.




2- Dissemination of information in context of the methods of popular participation in urban affairs via TV

promotions.

3-Qualitative increase of information in the context of social participations benefits of citizens

4- The explanation of the obtained results from social participation for citizens.

5- The attention of confidence in citizens through performing the ideas of citizens.

6- The establishment of local councils in locales and encouragement of people for membership in these

councils and increase of their awareness amount

7-Respect to citizen votes, ideas, criticisms and suggestions by purpose of decrease of their disabled feels.

8- Increasing the fields of increase of collaboration and popular participation by the municipality and the

creation of a positive prospect in popular minds of Khash citizens.

9- Increasing direct and face to face interaction of officers with people in the form of the establishment of

local meetings.

10-Establishing proficient consultation boards in the fields of civil participation.

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STUDYING THE EFFECTIVE FACTORS ON POPULAR PARTICIPATION IN URBAN AFFAIRS: CASE STUDY OF KHASH CITY

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