Strategies for Achieving Spatial/Geographic Justice in Iran

پژوهش ‎های جغرافیای سیاسی

Article 3, Volume 3, Issue 3 - Serial Number 9, January 2019, Pages 25-57

Document Type: مقالات علمی -پژوهشی

DOI: 10.22067/pg.v4i9.75411

Authors

Mostafa Ghaderi Hajat^* ; Mohammad Reza Hfeznia

Tarbiat Modares University

Abstract

Extended Abstract
1 Introduction
Generally, spatial injustice which can be a threat for national security and evolution of critical areas refers to an imbalanced distribution of society’s valuable properties such as political-executive power, wealth and opportunity resources. Spatial injustice is the most important feature of Iran’s spatial organization which is seen in the center-periphery structure of the country from local to national scales. Due to the threats and current complicated conditions, an effort to achieve spatial justice is one of the main research priorities in political geography.
A democratic approach to spatial justice provides equality for all residents of a geographic space to enjoy the resources, opportunities and infrastructures through their participation in the decision-making processes. Spatial justice is realized when power, wealth and opportunities are distributed proportionally with the potentialities of the micro- and macro-spaces and places. As a result, the interests empowering societies to meet their needs increase and the coefficient between the regions increases. Space and humans are the focal point of human geographical thought and of political geography.Equal access of all residents of a geographic space to the main factors like power, opportunity and wealth at micro- and macro-levels form the axis of spatial justice in political geography.
Mohamadi, Rasoli and Dastineh (2016)
2 Method
This research uses descriptive-analytic method based on a literature review and field findings to codify method to reach geographic and spatial justice in Iran. The literature review was used to determine the effective factors in spatial injustice in Iran. In the field findings, the facets and indices of spatial justice are categorized and standardized to measure the Iranian situation. The pillars of spatial injustice are characterized and categorized from the perspective of the statistical population based on the average score to codify methods of reaching geographic and spatial justice in Iran. 
3 Results and Discussion
The results of the research show that spatial justice in Iran is due to the operation of a wide range of factors as follows:   
-  Natural geography and unequal distribution of biological foundation (Inherent characteristics);
- Human geography and spatial structure of the nation;
- The political system, policy making, and planning for national development (casual properties);
- Regional and global geopolitical environment.
The research results show that the most important foundation of spatial injustice in Iran are as follows: inequality in the distribution of power, wealth and opportunity resources, the weakness of budgeting system, the weakness of regional and local system management, spatial justice is not a general demand, Institutionalized centralization are the factors with high level of impact and unbalanced natural foundations, the theoretical weakness in the field of spatial justice studies, the weakness of regional and national information and accounting system as the factors with lower impact.
4 Conclusion
In order to access spatial justice, the following strategies are proposed as a policy agenda:
- Optimal spatial distribution of wealth flow as development prerequisite (management of money flow);
- Allocation of special budget in provincial budgets for balanced development in order to achieve regional balance;
- Strengthening the local potential of the regions in order to increase in efficiency to achieve balanced development;
- Attention to the systemic thinking of spatial justice in local, regional and national levels;
- Revision of the 27 principles of the constitution related to the concentration of affairs.

Keywords

spatial justice; spatial in justice; inherent characteristics; acquired properties; policy and planning system

References

1. Ahmadi Nohadani, S. (2013). Finding the Pattern of Political Character of Buffered Geographic Spaces; a Case Study of Iran. PhD Dissertation, Tarbiat Modares University- Tehran.[In Persian].

2. Bladpas, A. et al. (2006). Analysis of Actions of Physical Space of Iran in Its Political Geography. Quarterly of Geographic Perspective, 1(2).

3. Edward. W. S. (2010). Seeking Spatial Justice. USA: University of Minnesota Press.

4. Ezati, N.A. et al. (2011). The Role of Border Regions Spatial Planning in Planning System; A Case Study of Iran’s Border Regions. Journal of New Approaches in Human Geography. 3.

5. Ghaderi Hajat, M. (2014). Designing a Pattern of Measuring Spatial Justice. PhD Dissertation, Tarbiat Modares University- Tehran,Iran. [In Persian].

6. Hafeznia, M. & Allahverdizadeh, R. (2009). The Relation between Unitary Political System and National Integrity: a Case Study of Iran. Political Science Journal, 5(1). [In Persian].

7. Hafeznia, M. & Ghaderi Hajat, M. & Ahmadipor, Z. & Eftekhari, R. & Gohari, M. (2015). Designing a Pattern of Measuring Spatial Justice: Case Study of Iran. Spatial Planning Journal, 19(1). [In Persian].

8. Hafeznia, M. & Ghaderi Hajat, M. & Ahmadipor, z. (2010). Space and Politics. Mashhad: Papoli Press. [In Persian].

9. Hafeznia, M. & Ghaderi Hajat, M. (2014). Conceptualization of Spatial Justice in Political Geography. Geopolitics Quarterly, 11(4). [In Persian].

10. Hafeznia, M. & Ghaderi Hajat, M. (2018). Codification of Strategies to Reach Spatial Justice in Iran. Postdoctoral Dissertation, Tarbiat Modares University-Tehran, Iran.

11. Hafeznia, M. (2002). Political Geography of Iran. Tehran: SAMT Press. [In Persian].

12. Kamran, H. et al. (2005). Impacts of Topographic Structure on Political Geography of Iran. Journal of Geography, 3(6-7). [In Persian].

13. Karimipour, Y.A. (2001). Iran and the Neighbors, the Sources of Conflict and Controversy. Tehran: Tarbiat Moallem University Press. [In Persian].

14. Kaviani Rad, M. & Nosrati, H. (2014). Expounding the Functions of Regional Claims in Unitary State. Geopolitics Quarterly, 10(3). [In Persian].

15. Mazúr, E., & Urbanek, J. (1983). Space in Geography. Geo-Journal, 7(2).

16. Mihalopoulos, A. Philippopoulos. (2014). The Movement of Spatial Justice, Available Online at: https:// www. researchgate. net/ publication/ 275844357

17. Mirheidar, D. (2001). Principles of Political Geography. Tehran: SAMT Press. [In Persian].

18. Norris, P. (2015). Theories of Political Activism. Developments in European Politics. Editors: Paul Heywood, Erik Jones, Martin Rhodes and Ulrich Sedelmeier (Palgrave Macmillan 2009). New York: Political Institute.

19. Rashidi, M. et al. (2014). Geopolitical Pathology of Spatial Planning in Iran. Journal of New Approaches in Human Geography. 6(3). [In Persian].

20. Rasti, O. & Rahimi, S. (2008). Security and Development in West Asia from the Viewpoint of Core-Periphery Model: Case Study of Border Regions of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Conference on Human Security in West Asia. Birjand: Birjand University. [In Persian].

21. Valigholizadeh, A. (2016). Spatial Analysis of the Effects of Centralism in the Formation of Spatial-Territorial Inequalities in Iran. Journal of Political Geography Researches. 1(4). [In Persian].

22. Ziari, K.A. (1999). Principles and Methods of Regional Planning. Yazd: Yazd University Press. [In Persian].