This book, based on conference excerpts, investigates various aspects of contemporary Iranian urbanism. The topics covered range from the impacts of political developments on the cities’ rapid socio-economic developments, to the cities’ troubled relationship with the country’s built-environment history and their frequently ill-managed exposure to Western notions of development and globalisation. Last but not least, the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters in an age of increasing urban-population densification is also considered. Alongside more theoretically and artistically oriented debates, the book’s individual contributions turn their attention to the now much higher proportion of urban dwellers in the country’s rising population. It also discusses the policies designed in response to these demographic moves, including those to develop new towns, find housing for the excess population in existing cities, renovate historic buildings and create new public spaces. The practice-policy oriented contributions also include those concerning the country’s responses to natural disasters.

During recent years, the topic of participation has increasingly been gaining importance in Iran – in the scientific field, in practice and rhetoric. However, in current scientific literature – and especially in English literature – there is little knowledge on the conditions, legal background, perceptions, experiences and processes of citizens’ participation in Iran. This book aims to shed light on the paradoxical question of participation in Iran: it is old and new, dysfunctioning and functioning, disappointing and promising. This slippery status of participation convinces scholars to suggest contradictory interpretations and understandings about the existence, functionality, and potentiality of this concept. The book therefore shows the different perspectives, interpretations, historical developments and case studies of participation in Iran, thus giving the reader a kaleidoscope view on the question of participation in Iran.

CHAPTER FIVE. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION -- 5.1. Introduction -- 5.2. Structure of Urban Planning and Management in Iran -- 5.3. Position and Role of City Councils, Community (local) Councils and NGOs in Urban Planning and Management in Iran -- 5.3.1. Position and Role of City Councils in Urban Planning and Management -- 5.3.1.1. Authorities and Functions -- 5.3.1.2. Links and Communication -- 5.3.1.3. Financial Dependency -- 5.3.1.4. Ongoing Activities -- 5.3.2. Position and Role of Community (local) Councils in Urban Planning and Management -- 5.3.3. Position and Role of Non-governmental Organizations in Urban Planning and Management -- 5.3.3.1. Informal and formal NGOs -- 5.3.3.2. Problems and Obstacles -- 5.3.3.3. Potentials and capacities -- 5.3.3.4. NGOs Concerned with Saadi Community -- 5.4. Current and Possible levels of Citizen Participation in Iran -- 5.4.1. Current Levels of Citizen Participation -- 5.4.2. Possible Levels of Citizen Participation -- 5.5. Affecting Factors on Citizen Participation in Iran -- 5.5.1. Affecting Factors on Citizen Participation in Iranian Cities -- 5.5.1.1. Mediatory variables -- 5.5.1.2. Independent Variables -- 5.5.2. Affecting Factors on Citizen Participation in Saadi Community (As an Informal Settlement) -- 5.5.2.1. Mediatory Variables -- 5.5.2.2. Independent Variables -- 5.6. Summary -- References -- ABSTRACT -- ZUSAMMENFASSUNG -- Back Cover