An Examination of the Urban Management and Planning System in Iran, Urban Development Plans, and the Strategic-Operational Document of the Integrated Urban Development Planning System, with an Emphasis on Coordinated Urban Management.
Abstract
In recent decades, one of the most significant strategic oversights in the country has been the neglect of cities and the way urban affairs are planned, managed, and governed.
According to most stakeholders and experts, a large portion of public satisfaction is directly linked to this issue and to the performance and track record of the country’s urban management sector. This matter has had—and will continue to have—a major impact on either the decline or enhancement of the nation’s social capital.
Unfortunately, in this regard, the country faces an unsuccessful and indefensible record. One of the main reasons for this situation is the widespread inefficiency of the plans that have been prepared and implemented under the name of “urban development plans” within the country’s urban planning system.
In this article you read about:
The Urban Management and Planning System in Iran and Its Impact on Development Plans
Iran’s urban management system is centralized and outdated, with poor coordination and limited municipal roles, focusing mainly on physical construction rather than integrated urban development.
The impact of the nature of the spatial planning system on plan
Urban planning in Iran relies on an outdated positivist model (“Survey–Analysis–Plan”) and lacks integration of social, economic, and managerial factors. Current plans focus primarily on physical growth, but many goals remain unachieved due to neglecting modern approaches like Urban Development Strategy.
Reasons for the Failure of Development Plans Before the Iranian Revolution
The failure of pre-revolution development plans in Iran was mainly due to the nature of the planning system. The sectoral planning model focused on economic projects without considering social and cultural impacts. Additionally, conflicts between technocrats and the ruling regime, along with a planning system driven by political interests, led to state authoritarianism and increased foreign dependency.
Reasons for the Failure of Development Plans After the Iranian Revolution
Sanctions, vague goals, poor planning, and lack of participation have weakened Iran’s post-revolution development plans, making them ineffective.
Integrated Comprehensive Program as an Operational Strategy
The integrated comprehensive program outlines clear roles and responsibilities across four levels—governance, strategic, local, and operational—to support the implementation of a strategic-operational model. It ensures transparency, accountability, and coordination while preventing unnecessary interference, allowing all stakeholders’ interests to be monitored based on shared values.
This study was conducted in 2022 at Samen Spiritual Smart City Research Institute under the supervision of Mohsen Akbarzadeh.
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