Pathology of Urban Policy Making In The Islamic Republic of Iran: A Case Study Of The Seventh Development Plan

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Political Sciences, Faculty of Law & Political Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Political Sciences, Faculty of Law & Political Sciences, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran

10.22059/jppolicy.2026.107807

Abstract

Urban policy-making is one of the most important domains of public governance, playing a crucial role in sustainable development, improving citizens’ quality of life, and addressing urban challenges. This study aims to analyze the major urban policies embedded in the Seventh Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to identify their strengths, shortcomings, and implementation challenges. The research adopts a qualitative content analysis approach based on thematic analysis. Data were collected from expert interviews, specialized reports, and documents related to the Seventh Development Plan. The study population consisted of fifteen experts in urban management, public policy, urban planning, and executive administration. The findings indicate that the Plan contains capacities for improving urban governance in areas such as urban location planning, urban expansion, urban accessibility and adaptation, engineering systems, and the reduction of informal settlements. However, significant challenges remain, including weaknesses in good urban governance, the absence of integrated urban management, inconsistencies in laws and regulations, a lack of sustainable revenue sources, overlapping institutional responsibilities, limited citizen participation, and insufficient attention to issues such as urban safety and urban identity. Furthermore, the results reveal that the Seventh Development Plan places greater emphasis on executive and physical dimensions of urban development than on institutional and structural reforms in urban management. Accordingly, achieving the objectives of urban development requires strengthening urban governance, revising the legal and regulatory framework, enhancing the authority of local governments, developing sustainable financial resources, and promoting public participation in urban decision-making processes.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Public Policy
Volume 12, Issue 2
June 2026
Pages 124-135

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