Analyzing the Dimensions and Indicators of Urban Governance Affecting Urban Identity: A Meta-Synthesis Study
Subject Areas : urbanismMahsa Dehghanian 1 , Mohsen Rafian 2
1 - PhD candidate in Urban Planning, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor of rban Planning, Department of Urban Planning Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.
Keywords: Urban governance, Identity, Meta-synthesis, Integrative Approach, Sandelowski and Barroso Seven-step Model,
Abstract :
The identity of a city is recognized as a key concept in urban planning and can serve as a basis for designing and evaluating urban functions. In this research, after elucidating the concepts of the dimensions and indicators of the role of urban governance in the identity formation of cities, relevant studies (articles) on the subject have been identified, and the dimensions and indicators of the role of urban governance in the identity formation of cities have been extracted from within them using a synthesis method. The main research question is, what effective criteria regarding the role of urban governance in the identity formation of cities can be found in research and articles? And which dimensions and indicators of the role of urban governance in the identity formation of cities have been more emphasized by researchers?. This qualitative research adopts a meta-synthesis approach, aiming to collect, analyze, and integrate findings from related studies. Using qualitative content analysis, 54 domestic (2013–2024) and international (1990–2024) scholarly articles were screened and selected. Data were analyzed through conceptual and axial coding, and the results were summarized in a table of dimensions, indicators, and concepts of urban governance and urban identity. The study followed Sandelowski and Barroso’s (2007) seven-step meta-synthesis method. These documents include all scientific research articles published in reputable domestic journals in Persian and English, which were obtained through keyword searches related to governance, identity, and city in Iran in internal databases such as Noormags, Magiran, ISC, SID, the Comprehensive Human Sciences Portal, and the Civilica reference website, as well as searching for the keywords “urban identity” and “urban governance” in databases like Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Scholar. In this stage, the research information has been classified into a table. As indicated in the above tables, the sociological and geographical dimensions are the ones that have the highest frequency in the role of urban governance in contributing to the identity of cities, meaning that a greater number of studies have referred to these dimensions. Overall, in order to control and maintain quality in meta-analytic studies, the researchers of the articles have considered the following aspects. Based on the research stages, initially, the dimensions and indicators within each dimension were extracted through a coding process, and then, using the axial coding process, all components were categorized based on common concepts. According to the findings, there are seven dimensions and 98 indicators related to the dimensions of this subject in the research in question. Urban governance must take urban identity into account in its decision-making processes. In today's world, cities are competing to attract capital, talent, and economic opportunities. Urban governance should aim to enhance the identity of the city and present it as a competitive advantage. Ultimately, effective urban governance views the city's identity not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity for sustainable development and progress. The precise application of urban identity in the governance process leads to strengthened citizen engagement, sustainable development, and the creation of a city with a higher quality of life
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