Document Type : Articles extracted from Thesis
Authors
1
Ph.D student in the Department of Geography, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
2
Professor of Geography Department, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
3
Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction
The accelerated trend of urbanization and the spatial expansion of Zahedan city have led to substantial transformations in the rural areas surrounding the urban core. These changes have not only affected the socio-economic fabric but also imposed new challenges in terms of governance and sustainable development. In such a context, applying the principles of good governance in rural management becomes essential. Good governance encompasses core dimensions such as participation, transparency, accountability, justice, and efficiency—principles that collectively aim to ensure inclusive development and improve the quality of life for rural populations. However, assessing the realization of these principles in rural settings, particularly in the peripheral villages of Zahedan, is complicated by diverse cultural, administrative, and infrastructural constraints. This study seeks to evaluate the current status of rural governance in the region by applying multi-criteria decision-making models to identify key priorities for policy and practice.
Methodology
This research adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology and was conducted in two systematic stages. In the first stage, an extensive review of scholarly literature and governmental reports was undertaken to extract the main indicators and sub-indicators of good governance applicable to rural contexts. These included participation in decision-making, administrative transparency, government accountability, equitable service distribution, and institutional efficiency. In the second stage, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the TOPSIS model were employed to analyze and rank these indicators based on data collected from field surveys. Structured questionnaires were distributed among local rural managers, governance experts, and development practitioners operating in the Zahedan region. The responses were analyzed using AHP software to assign weights and determine the relative importance of governance components.
Results and discussion
The analysis revealed that "participation" and "accountability" emerged as the most critical dimensions of rural governance, with the highest weights assigned in the AHP hierarchy. These findings highlight the importance of involving local populations in decision-making processes and ensuring that authorities remain answerable to community needs and concerns. “Transparency” also scored high, especially due to its impact on building public trust and improving the responsiveness of local institutions. In contrast, the criterion of "justice"—particularly in terms of equal access to public services and infrastructure—was found to be significantly lacking. The unequal distribution of resources and insufficient state support continue to hinder rural development in the studied areas. Additionally, bureaucratic inefficiencies and the lack of skilled personnel in local institutions were identified as major obstacles to service delivery and project implementation, ultimately reducing public motivation to participate in developmental initiatives.
Conclusion
The findings underscore that effective rural governance in the villages around Zahedan requires a multidimensional strategy that prioritizes community participation, institutional accountability, and enhanced transparency. For long-term improvement, local institutions must focus on capacity-building through training, inclusive planning, and community engagement mechanisms. Moreover, policy reforms aimed at improving justice and efficiency—especially through equitable resource allocation and administrative streamlining—are necessary to strengthen governance outcomes. By integrating these priorities within a structured evaluative framework, rural governance in the region can evolve toward more sustainable, participatory, and just systems of management.
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.
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