The Governance Challenge of Development Plan Laws in Iran: Divergent Governance and Neglect of the Social Sphere

Articles in Press

Document Type : The article derived from research in collaboration with professors

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran

2 researcher

10.22059/jrd.2025.395213.668920

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the governance of development in Iran by identifying the underlying causes of the failure to implement development plan laws. Employing a critical realist approach and qualitative research methodology, the study is based on interviews with 15 participants. The data were analyzed using a three-stage coding process. In the first stage, 295 initial codes were extracted from the interview transcripts. These were consolidated into 25 themes in the second stage, and finally grouped into five main categories: (1) unfavorable structural-economic conditions, (2) instability and weak systems thinking in development planning processes, (3) fragmentation of the executive system, (4) anti-social and non-participatory governance, and (5) ineffective oversight structures. The findings indicate that despite the government’s persistent efforts to address societal issues through excessive legislation, structural expansions, and budget allocations, the dominance of hierarchical governance, the lack of engagement with society, and the exclusion of intermediary layers and social institutions have severely hindered the realization of development laws. In this context, development—understood as both a fusion of perspectives and a balanced interaction among key institutions of the state, market, and society—has been caught in a state of divergence between theory and practice. The governance approach has failed to adopt an inclusive stance toward society, which is the cornerstone of development. This highlights the prevailing pattern of divergent governance in Iran. However, development-oriented governance is inherently convergent, defined by its defense of the social sphere and by balancing power among the state, society, and market. Thus, convergent governance can be seen as a mechanism that empowers society to counterbalance the unchecked power of the state and market and to establish equilibrium among social partners.

Keywords

The Journal of Community Development (Rural-Urban)

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 June 2025

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