Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas

Explaining the Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of Citizen Participation in the Administration of Bojnourd City with a Good Governance Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Marzieh Farzaneh 1
Ramezan Ali Naderi Mayvan 2
Farzad Ghaderi Bafti 3
1 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Shir.C., Islamic Azad University, Shirvan, Iran.
2 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Kosar University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran.
3 Department of Construction Management, Shir.C., Islamic Azad University, Shirvan, Iran.
10.22034/gsma.2025.2055426.1070
Abstract
1. Introduction
The urban good governance model is defined as a participatory development process whereby all stakeholders, including government, non-governmental organizations, and civil society, participate in solving urban problems. In Iran, urban management has distanced itself from participatory approaches and good urban governance due to centralization, sectoral management, and outward-looking urban planning, leaving a noticeable absence of active and dynamic citizens in the administration of Iranian cities. The structure of urban management in Iran consists of municipalities and Islamic city councils, which are considered a crucial dimension of urban governance. Given their elected nature and direct connection with the people, they could serve as one of the most important indicators for achieving good governance. However, they have yet to fulfill their true role and position in realizing the goals of integrated management and good urban governance.
Urban management in the country, as the most important institution governing cities and directly interacting with citizens, must play its role in enhancing citizens' social capital. In this regard, the urban management of Bojnourd is no exception. A comparison of Bojnourd's annual population growth rate with urban areas across the country shows that the city's expansion has surpassed any population increase. Until two decades ago, Bojnourd did not have a significant population. However, in recent years, particularly after becoming the capital of North Khorasan Province in 2004-2005, the city has undergone major transformations, especially in urban population growth and physical expansion. According to data from the Iranian Statistical Center, the city's population increased from 172,772 in 2006 to 228,931 in 2016.
Bojnourd also exemplifies problematic urbanization in Iran, where its formation and development are primarily the result of unplanned population growth, migration, and rising land and housing prices (rent-seeking). Consequently, Bojnourd's urban management lacks the necessary capacity to address the challenges stemming from unplanned growth.
Given the importance of urban management as a fundamental prerequisite for well-functioning cities, as well as public participation in city affairs as a key feature of good urban governance in solving urban problems, this study focuses on evaluating the indicators of citizen participation in city administration through the lens of good governance in Bojnourd. Improving governance can enhance the living conditions of Bojnourd's citizens. Good urban governance can lead to better-quality urban spaces and greater citizen trust in urban management institutions. It can also align Bojnourd's citizens with urban plans and programs, fostering their active participation.
This research seeks to answer the following main question: What factors influence the effectiveness of citizen participation in the administration of Bojnourd with a good governance approach, and which of these factors holds greater significance?
 
2. Methodology
The present study is applied in terms of purpose, interpretive and analytical in nature, and falls under qualitative research in terms of methodology. For data analysis, the Grounded Theory method and Fuzzy COPRAS model were employed. The statistical population of this research consists of experts and specialists in the field of study (urban planning, urban management), with the sample size determined through purposive sampling method, selecting 30 individuals. Data collection was conducted through both documentary and library studies as well as interviews. Prior to conducting the interviews, the researcher provided the informants with general information about identifying causal, contextual, and intervening factors. During the interview process, the researcher first asked participants to share their experiences regarding the phenomenon in question through narratives or stories derived from their personal experiences related to the research topic. Subsequently, each interview was transcribed, and for verification purposes, the transcribed text was cross-checked with the original interview recording. Concurrent with data collection and interview transcription, coding and data analysis were performed to interpret the interviews, with information obtained from previous interviews serving as the basis for subsequent ones. The interviews lasted approximately one month, with each interview taking between 60 to 90 minutes. The interviews continued until the point where no new data could be obtained.
 
3. Results
Based on the grounded theory method, the factors affecting the effectiveness of Bojnourd citizens' participation in city administration with a good governance approach were identified in the form of 6 causal categories, 8 contextual categories, and 6 intervening categories. Subsequently, the results of the fuzzy COPRAS model showed the most important causal category: awareness and education with a weight of 0.345, the most important contextual category: institutional accountability with a weight of 0.242, and finally the most important intervening category: institutional accountability with a weight of 0.242. These findings indicate that citizen education and the accountability of urban management institutions have had the greatest impact on effective citizen participation.
 
4. Discussion
Citizen participation means their active involvement in decision-making, planning, and implementation processes of urban projects. In this regard, raising citizens' awareness about their rights and responsibilities toward the city and providing necessary training for effective participation can be beneficial. Additionally, establishing local councils and civil society organizations as participatory institutions plays a crucial role in enhancing citizen engagement in urban governance. These councils act as a bridge between citizens and government entities, fostering greater interaction in decision-making and executive processes. They serve as intermediaries, building public trust in urban decision-making by creating direct communication channels between citizens and government institutions.
Moreover, through awareness campaigns, workshops, and public meetings, these councils inform citizens about urban plans and projects. By conducting surveys, they incorporate citizens' opinions into urban decision-making. As one interviewee noted, local councils strengthen citizens' sense of belonging to their neighborhood and the city of Bojnord by organizing cultural, social, and environmental programs, thereby encouraging participation.
Alongside city councils, establishing monitoring systems to prevent corruption, enhance public trust, and implement efficient mechanisms for receiving and addressing citizen complaints—as well as periodic evaluations of urban institutions' performance with feedback to citizens—can increase participation levels. However, institutional accountability is essential, as assigning clear responsibilities to urban institutions and ensuring their transparency in performance can optimize resource use to achieve set goals. Another key factor in the effectiveness of citizen participation is inter-sectoral collaboration. All experts agreed that without coordination and cooperation among responsible organizations and governing officials, successful citizen participation cannot be expected. Citizens take cues from officials; if they observe limited collaboration among institutions, their willingness to engage diminishes, sometimes even leading to distrust in government bodies. Therefore, it is necessary to establish networks of collaboration among citizens, urban institutions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
 
5. Conclusion
These findings indicate that citizen education and the accountability of urban management institutions have had the greatest impact on effective citizen participation.
 
Author Contributions
In the preparation and writing of this article, all author has contributed equally and jointly. All stages of the research, from study design and data collection to analysis of results and final writing of the article, are the result of collaboration and collective agreement of all authors.
 
Data Availability Statement
Data available on request from the authors
 
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank and appreciate all the tourists who participated in this research.
 
Ethical Considerations
All authors affirm that this research was conducted in accordance with ethical standards, with no data fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.
 
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
 
Conflict of Interest
The author declares no conflict of interes
Keywords
Participation
City management
Good governance
Bojnourd
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Journal of Geographical Studies of Mountainous Areas
Volume 6, Issue 3 - Serial Number 23
Autumn
Summer 2025
Pages 183-196