Abstract
In recent decades, free trade zones have rapidly emerged in developing countries such as Iran. The primary objective behind establishing these zones has been economic progress at the regional or national levels, with less attention paid to the development of local communities. Existing experiences indicate the impact of these zones on urban growth and the interests of cities and villages within them in various economic, social, physical, and environmental dimensions. Indeed, the positive or negative transformations in these areas have a direct and indirect correlation with the success and achievement of the initial goals of these zones. Therefore, the identification and analysis of the types of causes and their effects are crucial.
This research aims to investigate and analyze the effects of the formation of the Maku Free Trade Zone on its local communities (including the cities of Maku, Bazargan, Poldasht, Shute, and Marganlar) using document analysis and surveys. The results indicate that, firstly, urban growth has been relatively limited, with the influential domain encompassing the development of urban infrastructure, transportation networks, and tourism-related land uses. Secondly, local communities in this area have, to a large extent, had relatively minimal shares in terms of equal opportunities, participation, a sense of ownership and belonging, trust, satisfaction with housing, and the urban environment.
Keywords: Free Trade Zones, Urban Growth, Local Community, Maku Free Trade Zone |
