Rural–urban ties, immigration networks and rural development: Case study of Dehmala region, Semnan province

The spatial courses and interactions between cities and villages in the form of rural–urban ties play a very important role in balancing city and village and regional integrative development. Social and immigration networks are among the factors that can strengthen these ties for reducing poverty and the rural–urban gap. The present study aims to analyze the role of rural immigrants living in cities in strengthening the rural–urban ties and socio-economical development in rural regions. Research method is descriptive and analytical and statistical community includes immigrant and resident families of Dehmala region (Semnan province). Ten percent of participants were selected randomly as the sample size . Unit of analysis is family and the data were collected via questionnaire. Results of the study shows that rural immigrants living in cities have kept and strengthen their ties with their home village for emotional, ethical and economical motives. They have had an important role in job creation and rural development particularly through remittances, maintaining and enhancing real estate and economic investment in rural areas. Therefore, the presence of local social organizations among immigrants is a crucial factor. As a result, participation of immigrants living in cities is an important factor in rural development and for the continuousness of this process we need the efforts of local managers as well as the change in nature of assistances from individual and consumption assistance to public and investment assistance.