Explaining the role of good governance on the resiliency of inefficient urban textures (Case study of Red Crescent Neighborhood, Region 4, District 11in Tehran)
Subject Areas :Alireza Ostad Mahmoodnia 1 , Yousefali Ziari 2 *
1 - Ph.D candidate, Geography and Urban Planning , Research and Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Associate Professor, Geography and Urban Planning, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Keywords: Tehran, good urban governance, Urban Resiliency,
Abstract :
The purpose of this research is to achieve a conceptual model to estimate the comparing rate of parameters of good governance and resilience, moreover to find a relationship between urban good governance and resilience indicators and variables concerning inefficient urban textures, and finally to determine their amount of feasibility. The method of this research is quantative-scaling and correlational type. The main tool for this research is a questionnaire. Its justifiability is confirmed by a specialist board and its reliability is confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha (a>0/7). This questionnaire consists of three parts: the responders’ general characteristics, urban governance condition measurement (26 items), and resilience measurement (32 items). Statistical society of this research is chosen from Helal Ahmar (Red Crescent) neighborhood families. Helal Ahmar is in 11th district of Tehran municipality, in the central part of Tehran metropolis. Research sample size is calculated by Cochran formula according to the number of families in Helal Ahmar neighborhood. Multiple Regression model is used along with effective factors and indicators, to explain the effectiveness of each eight elements of urban governance on resilience. The results show that in Helah Ahmar neighborhood which is an inefficient urban texture, the following indicators from urban good governance: citizen participation, transparency, and lawfulness have the most effect on the resilience of this neighborhood. According to the significance level of these indicators the result can be generalized. Moreover, the results show that justice can have great effect on participation and lawfulness. Therefore, it can be concluded that justice has indirect effect on urban resilience.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The urban texture is created from the integration and interconnection of the urban spaces and elements, whose natural features and especially its topography in urban areas have been replaced by blocks (units) and neighborhoods. In fact, the urban texture is a mixture of urban morphology and a combination of mass and space as well as human activities. The parts of the urban texture where the physical or functional, or both parts are reduced and damaged are called abrasion edges (Khayami, Fakhri, & Khaknezhad, 2020). A significant part of urban life goes on in inefficient urban textures. Inefficient urban textures are areas of the city that, compared to other areas of the city, are lagging behind in development, separated from the evolutionary cycle of life, and have become the center of problems and inadequacies. However, these textures accommodate a high percentage of the urban population and at the same time have many latent capacities and capabilities for future urban development. These areas have several challenges such as vulnerability, crimes, health issues, biological and physical poverty, and lack of spatial, socio-economic and environmental justice, which are most affected during unpredicted changes (Izadfar, Rezaei, & Mohammadi, 2020). Although these textures had a logical and hierarchical function according to the time, today they have structural and functional deficiencies and do not meet the needs of their residents as they should. The above conditions indicate the unsustainability of these textures in different dimensions and conflict with the sustainability and goals of sustainable development (Hadavi, Pourahmad, Keshavarz, & Aliakbari, 2017). Therefore, one of the most important requirements is to explain the concept of resiliency and create resilient cities that are resistant to social crises, including crime, unemployment, and social delinquency. Meanwhile, today the city of Tehran, despite having comprehensive urban and regional plans faces several challenges related to inefficient textures, the Red Crescent neighborhood in the 11th district of Tehran does not have a good resiliency. Lack of cultural and sports per capita, crossing, and visual pollution, destruction of historical spaces, and urban depreciation due to the floating population are the problems of the Red Crescent neighborhood. The Red Crescent neighborhood affected by the rapid urbanization of recent decades has been developed without regarding urban planning and architectural criteria, and due to the conditions of this neighborhood and its exposure to various dangers, its resilience against sudden changes and accidents is essential. Considering the content presented in the problem, the main questions of the research are presented as follows: Is there a significant relationship between the components of good urban governance and the resiliency of inefficient urban textures? And if this relationship is significant, what effect do the components of good urban governance have on the resiliency of inefficient urban textures?
Methodology
The research method is a quantitative survey and of correlational type. The descriptions and analyses made in the introduction section of the study area, which was done with the aim of better understanding the problem, are a part of the descriptive research plan. Measuring the independent variables of good urban governance and the dependent variable of urban resilience and describing the analysis unit based on them, that is, describing the characteristics of urban governance (participation, effectiveness and efficiency, transparency, legitimacy, accountability, and strategic insight) and their effect on the characteristics of urban resilience (social, economic, institutional and physical) is another part of the descriptive research plan, which are all the basis for relational research. The data required for the necessary analyses are obtained from reports and studies such as the General Census of Population and Housing. The study plan for urban development issues of District 11 of Tehran was extracted and collected from the central parts of Tehran metropolis as well as related organizations and institutions such as Municipality, Statistics Center, and finally using a questionnaire and field observation in the study area. Then, the required data are stored and processed based on indicators and related weights with software such as Excel, SPSS, and GIS and are used to analyze the results through appropriate tests and problem explanations. The statistical population of the study is the Red Crescent neighborhood that according to the 2016 census, the total population of this neighborhood was 28,369 people, equivalent to 7,565 households. Through Cochran's formula and according to the ratio of the number of households (3.7) in the study area, 135 people were selected as the research sample size. The main research tool is a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α <0.7). This questionnaire includes three sections: general characteristics of the respondents (5 items), assessment of the status of urban governance (26 items), and assessment of resiliency (32 items). Most items were grouped in a 5-point Likert range (from 1. very low to 5. very high). To analyze the data, SPSS software was used in both descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results and discussion
The results showed that from the dimensions of good urban governance, the component of citizen participation has the most impact with 52% and then the component of being rule-abiding with 17.5%, the component of transparency with 17% are related to the dependency variable of inefficient urban textures and these results with a significance level less than 5% can be generalized to the statistical community. Regarding indirect effects, justice has the most indirect effect on the resilience of inefficient urban textures. This finding is aligned with the researches (Yee-Melichar, Boyle, Wanek, & Pawlowsky, 2014) and (Shaw, Scully, & Hart, 2014). Explaining this result, it can be said that citizen participation in various fields is one of the important signs of citizenship culture. In many reconstruction projects of worn-out urban textures, like many urban development projects, there is a problem of residents' distrust of urban developmental projects, which stems from not sharing the process of renovation and reconstruction of worn-out textures with the residents of these structures. The negligence of the authorities towards the needs of the residents as those who are directly related to the problems of such areas has intensified the distrust and lack of participation of the citizens.
Conclusion
Studies and experiences in the field of improvement and reconstruction of worn-out urban textures represent the evolution of new approaches such as urban regeneration with an emphasis on public participation. Major experts and analysts of social issues and development have theoretically and empirically found that the social participation of citizens in the form of formal and informal networks is a vital and important factor in urban development and solving problems, especially inefficient urban textures. In the resiliency of these areas, it has emphasized public aspects such as social trust, norms and social network (Saja, Goonetilleke, Teo, & Ziyath, 2019), sense of belonging to the place, values and social unity, citizen participation, education and learning (Khalili, Harre, & Morley, 2015). Empowerment and skills of citizens, their awareness of the performance of officials, and the preparation and implementation of projects with the participation of citizens can be effective in increasing the resiliency of inefficient urban textures. By reconstruction of inefficient urban texture and creating stability and adaptation to accidents, risks, and dangers, the capacities, and potentials of a society can be rebuilt and used against unpredicted events and reduce the social vulnerability of that society to crises and tensions.
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