Spatial Analysis on the Policy of Expansion of Premature Cities in Iran (Case Study: Semnan Province)

Authors

1 .Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Corresponding Author, Geography and Urban Planning, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The policy of converting rural areas to towns despite their small populations has been a significant concern in the residential system of the country over the past three decades. This has resulted in the formation of the Premature cities class, situated at the base of the urban network pyramid. The objective of this study is to investigate the standing and composition of these cities within the municipal network of Semnan province. Additionally, it seeks to identify the determinants of their growth and determine the most effective model for the transformation of a village into a city.
The present study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology and possesses a practical nature in terms of its type.
The research findings indicate that premature cities are the most populous in Semnan province, accounting for only 3–4% of the urban classes, despite having the largest population. Furthermore, the transformation of district centers into cities through political intervention has significantly impacted the growth of the province’s premature cities. In order to achieve the same result with villages, the optimal strategy is to consider the settlement’s regional significance and ensure that it possesses the requisite potential to develop into a city.
This study’s findings validate the notion that political interventions have contributed to the emergence of a substandard category of cities known as “premature cities” at the periphery of the provincial urban network. These cities failed to fulfill the essential function of fostering progress; rather, in order to elevate a village to the status of a city, one must take into account the region's potential

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  • Agergaard, J., Kirkegaard, S., & Birch-Thomsen, T. (2021). Between village and town: Small-town urbanism in sub-Saharan Africa. Sustainability, 13(3), 1417. ‌https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031417
  • Ali-Ahmadi, A., Bonyadi Naeini, A., & Taqvi, M. (2018). Identifying the critical success factors of sustainable banking with a mixed approach. Tomorrow Management Journal, 18, 19-32. (In Persian)
  • Annez, P. C., Buckley, R. M., & Spence, M. (2009). Urbanization and growth. Commission on Growth and Development: World Bank.
  • Azizi M. M., Zebardast, E., Bornafar, M. (2018). Analysis of the factors and effects of village transformation to city on urban system in Guilan Province, Iran (1956-2016). MJSP, 22(1), 187-218. http://hsmsp.modares.ac.ir/article-21-14036-fa.html. (In Persian)
  • Bell, D., & Jayne, M. (2006). Conceptualizing Small Cities. Urban Experience Beyond the Metropolis, Routledge, Oxon.
  • Berdegué, J. A., & Soloaga, I. (2018). Small and medium cities and development of Mexican rural areas. World Development, 107, 277-288.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.02.007
  • Bornafar, M. (2017). Conceptualization of the effects of the transformation of rural settlements into cities on the regional spatial organization. PhD Dissertation. University of Tehran, Tehran. (In Persian)
  • Chen, W., Ye, C., & Liu, Y. (2023). From the arrival cities to affordable cities in China: Seeing through the practices of rural migrants’ participation in Guangzhou’s urban village. Habitat International, 138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2023.102872
  • ChengH. and Lin Y. (2002). Evaluating the best main battle tank using fuzzy decision theory with linguistic criteria evaluation, European Journal of Operational Research, 142(1), 174-186.
  • Choithani, C., Van Duijne, R. J., & Nijman, J. (2021). Changing livelihoods at India’s rural–urban transition. World Development, 146, 105617. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105617
  • Diamantini, C. (2010). Spatial planning to avoid urban inequalities: Experiences in emerging small towns of Mozambique, spatial planning to avoid urban inequalities. 46th ISOCARP Congress.
  • Ezadi Khorame, H. (2008). The transformation of the village into a city and its role in rural development (The case of Fars province). PhD Dissertation. Tehran: Tarbiat Modares University. (In Persian)
  • Foltyński, M. (2016). Management tool for streamlining city logistics, Transportation Research Procedia 16, 2nd International Conference “Green Cities - Green Logistics for Greener Cities”, 2-3 March 2016, Szczecin, Poland. Pp. 89-103.
  • Goli, A., & Asgari, A. (2015). The use of fuzzy in transforming a village into a city in Tehran province, Modares Human Sciences, 45, 139-158. (In Persian)
  • Habibi, A., & Afridi, S. (2022). Multi-indicator decision making. Tehran: Naron Publications. (In Persian)
  • Hung, H. L., Altschuld, J. W., & Lee, Y. F. (2008). Methodological and conceptual issues confronting a cross-country Delphi study of educational program evaluation. Evaluation and program planning, 31(2), 191-198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2008.02.005
  • Karimi, B., Badri, S. A., Salmani, M., & Ghadiri Masoum, M. (2012). Evaluation of the Effect of Promoting Villages to Towns in the Development of Mountain Regions from the Local Residents’ Viewpoint (Case Study: Dailaman District, Siahkal Township). Journal of Rural Research, 3(11), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2012.29219. (In Persian)
  • Khorasani, M., & Babaei, M. (2022). Analysis of the process of transformation of village into city in the land management system in Iran. Tehran: Office of Infrastructure Studies. (In Persian)
  • Lazaro, E., Agergaard, J., Larsen, M. N., Makindara, J., & Birch-Thomsen, T. (2019). Urbanisation in rural regions: emergence of urban in Tanzania. The European Journal Development Research, 31(1), 72-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41287-018-0185-9
  • Owusu, G. (2005). The Role of district capitals in regional development: linking small towns, rural-urban linkage and decentralization in Ghana. PhD Thesis. University of Science and Technology.
  • Parvizian, A., & Maleki, S. (2022). Vulnerability of urban areas to the risk of earthquakes based on the IHWP model (Case study: Ahvaz region 6). Amash Sarmeen, 14(2), 571-594. https://doi.org/10.22059/jtcp.2022.335903.670284. (In Persian)
  • Qasemi, V. (2010). Fuzzy inference systems and social research. Tehran: Sociologists. (In Persian)
  • Rahnamaei, M. (2009). Government and urbanization in Iran (general principles of the theory of city development and urbanization in Iran, Urban Ecology Researches, 165-143. (In Persian)
  • Rezvani, M. R., Shakoor, A., Ronizi, S. R. A., & Roshan, G. (2009). The role and function of small towns in rural development using network analysis method case: Roniz rural district (Estahban city, province Fars, Iran). Journal of geography and regional planning, 2(9), 214.‏
  • Roy, A. (2009). The 21st century metropolis: New geographies of theory. Regional Studies, 43(6), 819–830.
  • Safarkhani, R., Saidi, A., Mrydsadat, P., & Ghourchi, M. (2021). The position of city and village relations in the production and supply of carpets Case: Songor area (Kermanshah). Geography, 19(68), 22-37. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.27172996.1400.19.1.2.4. (In Persian)
  • Sephovand, R., Taghipour, S., & Momeni, M. (2019). Identifying the effective factors in the formation of the production jump culture with the Delphi method. Social and Cultural Strategy, 36, 73-101. https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.22517081.1399.9.3.3.0. (In Persian)
  • Shahidipour, R., Sangi, E., Mazaherian, H., Karami, A., & Jafari Shahrashtani, A. (2021). Identifying & prioritizing indicators for evaluating the performance of Tehran’s municipal areas using the fuzzy method. Urban and Regional Development Planning, 15, 51-87. https://doi.org/10.22054/urdp.2021.61510.1346. (In Persian)
  • Shaw, A. (2019). Urban growth and change in post-liberalized India: Small town dynamics. Journal of Urban and Regional Studies on Contemporary India, 6(1), 1–14.
  • Statistical Yearbook of Semnan Province. (2019). Statistical Center of Iran. (In Persian)
  • Storper, M., & Scott, A. (2016). Current debates in urban theory: A critical assessment. Urban Studies, 53(6), 1114–1136.
  • Tahsiri, M., Izady, H., & Soltani, A. (2023). Identifying Factors Affecting the Function of Towns in the Urban System of Fars's Central Area. Urban Structure and Function Studies, 10(36), 9-33. https://doi.org/10.22080/usfs.2023.24642.2322. (In Persian)
  • Tajzadeh, Z., Imani Jajarmi, H., Mirzaie, H., & Zanganeh Shahraki, S. (2023). Reasons and consequences of transforming a village to the city from the villagers’ perspective with focus on social structure (Qaleh No city). Community Development, 14(2), 353-370. https://doi.org/10.22059/jrd.2022.340067.668707. (In Persian)
  • Todes, A. (2012). Urban growth & strategic spatial planning in South Africa. Cities, 29, 158–165.
  • United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN-Habitat) (2016). Urbanization and development: Emerging futures. World cities report 2016. Nairobi: UN-Habitat.
  • Zanganeh Shahraki, S. (2012). The process of transforming rural into cities on a national scale and the emergence of premature cities phenomenon. Rural Research, 4(3), 525-557. https://doi.org/10.22059/jrur.2013.36493. (In Persian)
  • Zeiatavana, M., & Amir Ekhtahani, Sh. (2007). The process of transforming the village into a city and its consequences in Talesh city. Geography and Development, 10, 107-128. (In Persian)

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics