Explanation of “Urban Power” and Its Effects on the Development Process of Tehran City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Political Sciences, International College of Islamic Sciences, London, England

2 Ph.D. Candidate of Public Management, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Urban power refers to a set of governing rules in various physical, sociocultural, economic, and political dimensions. It is a science formed during a historical process by the relations between the various levels of power in a city. The current study aims to explore the "urban power" concept among other relevant concepts and distinguish it from similar concepts. Therefore, it is required to recognize the "urban power" concept as a new and influential component in the process of policymaking, planning, and implementing urban development plans, and to understand the effects of its support or resistance in the urban development process. The main problem discussed in this study is the imperfect understanding of city as a powerful and influential entity in urban development processes. To address this problem, the theoretical discussions are reviewed using qualitative methods of documentary research, and library research. Next, the objective examples of urban power in Tehran city are investigated. The research findings indicated that it is required urban development authorities recognize the urban power as a set of governing rules in physical, behavioral, managerial, structural, and institutional dimensions and as the urban knowledge governing their activities. They also need to consider it a new component in policymaking, planning, and implementing urban development plans. Understanding the effects of urban power on the urban development processes provides urban managers and administers with a new perspective to the issues relevant to their tasks and authorities to differently analyze the data and results.

Keywords


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