Preipheral Urban Spaces Development

Preipheral Urban Spaces Development

Analyzing the Causes of Conflict in Urban Peripheral with an Open Policy Approach(Case Study: Region 2 of Ahvaz)

Document Type : Articles extracted from Thesis

Authors
Ahmad Sharifipour 1
Mohammadali Khaliji 1
Sadegh Sadeghi 2
1 Department of Urban Planning, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
2 Department of Urban Planning, Sho.C., Islamic Azad University, Shooshtar, Iran.
10.22034/jpusd.2025.515284.1338
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The rapid pace of urbanization globally has significantly transformed settlement patterns, particularly in peri-urban areas—transitional zones between urban centers and rural hinterlands. These areas are characterized by a complex interplay of social dynamics, governance structures, and land-use strategies, often leading to conflicts of interest that challenge sustainable urban development.The research is driven by two central questions: (1) What are the primary causes of conflict management in the peri-urban area of Region 2 of Ahvaz Metropolis? and (2) What role does open policy-making play in managing these conflicts? The study adopts an applied, qualitative, and exploratory approach, utilizing the Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) method—a futures studies technique developed by Sohail Inayatullah—to dissect the multi-layered causes of conflict and propose actionable solutions.
Urbanization in Iran, as in many developing countries, has accelerated over recent decades. The urban population in Iran rose from 31% in 1956 to 76% in 2021, reflecting a significant shift from rural to urban living. This trend has fueled the expansion of metropolitan areas like Ahvaz, a key economic hub in Khuzestan Province due to its oil and industrial activities. Region 2 of Ahvaz Metropolis, located northwest of the city along the Karun River, spans 728 hectares and housed a population of 102,272 as of 2015. Its strategic location, proximity to transit routes, and abundant land for development make it a critical area for urban growth. However, this growth has been accompanied by challenges such as unplanned migration, informal settlements, and land-use conflicts, exacerbating tensions among stakeholders including residents, municipal authorities, and private developers. Peri-urban areas like Region 2 are defined as transitional zones where urban and rural features coexist, often resulting in contested spaces marked by competing interests. The study highlights how rapid population growth (a 3.95% increase in Khuzestan Province between 2010 and 2015) and unchecked urban sprawl have strained infrastructure, increased land prices, and led to environmental degradation, all of which intensify conflicts over resources and governance.
 
Methodology
The research employs a mixed data collection strategy, integrating library studies with expert opinions gathered through the Delphi technique. A purposive sample of 30 urban experts and municipal managers from Region 2 was selected using snowball sampling, ensuring participants had relevant expertise and experience. Data were analyzed using CLA, which organizes causes into four hierarchical levels: (1) Litany (visible issues), (2) Systemic Causes (structural factors), (3) Discourse/Worldview (underlying ideologies), and (4) Myth/Metaphor (deep-seated narratives). This method allows for a nuanced understanding of conflict drivers, moving beyond surface-level symptoms to uncover systemic, cultural, and perceptual roots.
 
Results and discussion
The analysis identified 41 macro-level causes of conflict across five dimensions: governance and policy-making, economic, social-cultural, environmental-physical, and legal-institutional. Key findings include:
1. Governance and Policy-Making: At the litany level, conflicts manifest as public dissatisfaction with opaque decision-making and inter-agency disputes between government bodies and the municipality. Systemically, these stem from inconsistent national and local policies, weak inter-sectoral coordination, and inadequate participatory frameworks. The prevailing worldview reflects an elitist, top-down approach to governance, encapsulated in the metaphor "government as patriarch," where citizens are seen as passive dependents rather than active participants. Open policy-making, emphasizing transparency and multi-stakeholder engagement, is proposed as a remedy to enhance accountability and reduce tensions. 2. Economic: Visible issues include financial opacity in urban projects and public criticism of budget mismanagement. Structurally, reliance on unstable revenue sources (e.g., density sales) and uneven resource distribution fuel disputes. The dominant discourse prioritizes short-term economic gains over social equity, likened to a "urban economy as a casino" metaphor, where speculative gains overshadow long-term stability. Open policy-making could foster equitable resource allocation and citizen oversight of budgets. 3. Social-Cultural: Public protests and low civic engagement signal social unrest at the litany level, driven by systemic deficiencies in education and cultural infrastructure, compounded by entrenched inequalities. The worldview marginalizes peri-urban residents as "outsiders," with a myth that local culture hinders progress. Open policy-making can bridge this gap by promoting inclusive dialogue and cultural empowerment. 4. Environmental-Physical: Rapid, unregulated growth of informal settlements and environmental degradation are evident issues, rooted in poor land management and unsustainable development policies. The discourse of "progress at any cost" and the metaphor "city as a soulless machine" reflect a neglect of ecological balance. Open policy-making offers a pathway to sustainable planning through community involvement.
5. Legal-Institutional: Ambiguities in land ownership and weak enforcement of laws spark legal disputes. Systemic gaps in judicial oversight and a worldview of "traditional management without innovation" perpetuate inefficiencies, reinforced by the metaphor "institutions as high walls." Open policy-making can strengthen legal transparency and citizen participation in resolving disputes. Role of Open Policy-Making Open policy-making emerges as a transformative approach to conflict management in Region 2. Grounded in theories of open governance (Fung, 2006), participatory governance (Dahl, 1989), and collaborative governance (Ansell & Gash, 2008), it emphasizes transparency, accountability, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Practical recommendations include establishing local councils, digital platforms for citizen feedback, transparent budgeting, and legal reforms to support participatory processes. These measures aim to rebuild trust, reduce elite dominance, and align urban development with community needs.
 
Conclusion
The study concludes that conflicts in Region 2 of Ahvaz Metropolis arise from a nexus of governance mismatches, economic disparities, social exclusion, environmental neglect, and legal ambiguities. Open policy-making offers a robust framework to address these issues by fostering inclusivity, transparency, and adaptability. The findings align with prior research by Kazemian et al. (2017) and international studies like Howard (2013), reinforcing the need for integrated, participatory urban management. By implementing the proposed strategies, Region 2 can transition toward a more equitable and sustainable urban future, setting a model for peri-urban governance in Iran and beyond.
 
Funding
According to the responsible author, this article has no financial support
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
 We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.
Keywords
Conflict of interest management
urban peripheral
open policymaking
Region 2 of Ahvaz metropolis

Subjects

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Preipheral Urban Spaces Development
Volume 7, Issue 3 - Serial Number 17
Autumn
Autumn 2025
Pages 85-110