A Contextual Framework for Participatory Policy-Making and Fluid Social Capital

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Architecture, Research Institute of Buildings, Cultural Heritage Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD Candidate of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

10.22059/jppolicy.2025.105196

Abstract

Considering the importance of social participation and the complexities of community management in today’s fluid and diverse contexts, this study aims to explain the dimensions and mechanisms of fluid social capital and its interaction with participatory policymaking. It seeks to answer the main question: “How can a contextual and conceptual framework of participatory policy-making and fluid social capital facilitate community management?” To this end, a mixed-methods research design (qualitative–quantitative) was employed. In the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis with MAXQDA software. In the quantitative phase, data gathered from 250 participants through standardized questionnaires were analyzed using tests of normality, Pearson correlation, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings indicate that fluid social capital—comprising components such as dynamic social interactions, institutional trust, cultural cohesion, collective memory, and social resilience—operates through a multi-layered and flexible structure, providing the foundation for strengthening social networks and enhancing participatory policy-making.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Public Policy
Volume 11, Issue 4
December 2025
Pages 9-25

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