Structural analysis of the problems of development in east Azerbaijan province

اقتصاد و توسعه منطقه ای

Article 5, Volume 29, Issue 24, March 2023, Pages 119-153   

Document Type: Original Article

DOI: 10.22067/erd.2022.76770.1120

Author

mir ghasem banihashemi^*

Assistant professor in Research Institute of Strategic Studies, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

 
1- INTRODUCTION
One of the important goals of the policy-making system in Iran has been to achieve regional balance and reduce infrastructural inequalities and adjust the structural and territorial gaps between the central and peripheral provinces. But the pattern of national growth and development, which is based on the oil economy and the centralized management system, has become a ground for unbalanced growth and, as a whole, a platform for the emergence of imbalance among the provinces of the country.
Geopolitical features, distinct climatic and cultural characteristics, different development trends and different security environment have caused the provinces in Iran, especially East Azerbaijan, to face different issues/problems in terms of development indicators and security trends. Emphasis on explaining the system of provincial issues at the national level and the viewpoint of the Capital's elites and providing the same prescriptions for all provinces, has not been able to help deep understanding and solve the challenges of the country's regions. Based on this, the main purpose of this study is to identify the most important issues of this province and also network analysis and proportionality between issues in terms of effectiveness - influence and achieving key issues (as the main obstacles to the development of the province)
 
2- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
This article uses structural analysis or systemic approach to explain the problem system of East Azerbaijan province and to identify and understand the most important factors affecting the security and development of the province. The selected analytical framework allows the researcher to visualize a system or system instead of analyzing the problems of the province individually (Godet, 2006:157). The research is focused on the basic assumption that the analysis of the problems of the province in a systematic way can provide an understanding of the system of the problems of the province, which cannot be provided by a separate study of these problems. This fundamental assumption originates from the fact that issues in social life are very intertwined and this intertwining necessitates the study of issues as a system.
When we imagine the connections and relationships of issues in the form of a system, we have used a special possibility. This special service is to identify the key issues of the province, by identifying and adjusting them, real steps can be taken to improve governance. Real steps because the structural analysis makes it clear to governance agents what their priorities are for improving governance. (Hatami, 2019: 3)
 
3- METHODOLOGY
In terms of methodology, the present research, focusing on problemology in the field of progress and security of East Azerbaijan Province, as applied research, pursues several complementary goals. Therefore, the present research is considered to be applied research in terms of its purpose, and a qualitative research method in terms of its method, which uses the research strategy of "structural analysis". The basis of structural analysis is a systemic approach to complex problems.
In terms of the data collection method, this study uses a combined method to strengthen the validity of the data and also for a comprehensive review of the subject. Based on this, in order to understand the issues of progress and development in the province and to identify the most important key components affecting the development trends of the province, both from the qualitative method of in-depth interviews and the content analysis of national and regional development documents, and from the advanced description method have benefited.
 
4- RESULTS & DISCUSSION
The fundamental purpose of this research, especially in its qualitative part, is to discover, prioritize and then evaluate the key factors affecting the development and security of East Azerbaijan from the approach of the elites and senior managers of the province and the elite panel group.
Descriptive and analytical findings of this research, focusing on the views, opinions and analyzes extracted from interviews with several elites of the province, including senior executives, intellectual elites, civic and social activists, senior managers of trade unions or companies large private sector representatives as well as representatives of the public sector and civil institutions have been obtained. The conceptual data extracted from the interviews and the given coefficients of the elite panel were first analyzed in the 68*68 matrix and then in the 39*39 matrix in the USNET software. Also, to ensure the extraction of valid key factors, the data of the 39-factor cross-matrix table was also analyzed in Mic Mac software.
in the framework of network analysis, the key factors affecting the development of the province in terms of impact were identified in thus; 1) State and rent economy, 2) Security look of  the Central to provincial issues, 3) Centralized administrative structure and limited regional powers, 4) Neglect of geopolitical capacities and opportunities in the province, 5) Unbalanced intra-provincial development, 6) Structural discrimination against the province 7) The Incoherence of the management system of the province and the city, 8) Sanctions and the economic crisis of the country, 9) Security of ethnic identity, and 10) Tensions between factions, institutions and officials of the province.
 
5- CONCLUSIONS & SUGGESTIONS
A comparative look at the findings obtained from three types of software analysis shows that most of the variables affecting the province's development issues with different ratings are the same and common. And this indicates that the challenges of progress and development of the province are influenced by a certain range of factors and variables. Based on this, some suggestions are;
It is necessary to increase the authority of the administrative system of the province in terms of policy making, planning and selection of managers
Privatization procedures based on global standards, i.e., healthy competition, transparency, supervision and rule of law should be reformed and strengthened.
- Taking advantage of the unique geopolitical opportunities of the province requires the definition of regional, national and even transnational purposeful roles and responsibilities for the province.
- The transition from the security approach of the center to the province requires a comprehensive definition of national identity and security, as well as increasing the political capacities of the system in the region.
- Improving the development trends of the province requires an
integrated administrative and executive system in the province and cities.

Keywords

Problemology; Development; Structural Analysis; System of Problems; East Azerbaijan

References

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