The role of community sense-of-belonging in promoting social participation (Case of Study: Ghezel ghalea neighborhood of Tehran)
Subject Areas : Urban Sociological Studies
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Abstract :
Following the Municipality of Tehran's attempt to becoming a social institution, community management plans for decentralization and citizen participation in municipal administration was implemented. The main question of this research is: how much of a sense-of-belonging exists among the residents of Ghezel ghalea neighborhood of Tehran? What factors affect or influence this phenomenon? And whether community involvement at the community level is associated with? Theoretical framework of the research drew on the paradigm provided by Macmillan and Chavys about community sense -of- belonging and Rahnema’s model of participation. Research population consisted of all the residents of Ghezel ghalea neighborhood of Tehran who were above 18 years of age. Cluster sampling was used to select the sample. Research findings showed that household cost of living, occupation, length of stay in the neighborhood and sense-of-belonging were significantly related. Housing status, gender, age, education, and marital status were not related to sense-of-belonging. Knowledge of the neighborhood was the most highly (0.52) related variable to community sense-of-belonging. No relationships were found between neighborhood utilization and neighborhood sense of belonging.