From the kingdom lash to participation: The tale of urban planning in Iran

Abstract

Abstract This article discusses the duality of centralized/plural power in the urban planning of Iran. It takes centralized power (traditional) as the instrumental rationality and vertical planning, and multiplied power (Foucauldian) as the participative planning and communicative rationality. According to this notional framework, the article surveys urban planning in Iran since 1930, from its first activity regarding urban development to the utilization of citizen participation in 2001 for the renovation of unofficial dwellings. The main motivation for this paper is that while the participation of citizens is accepted in developed countries, in Iran, it is not transparent although the Iranian political system is considered democratic and it is expected that citizens’ participation in urban planning area can easily be traced. This article narrates five episodes regarding urban planning activity in Iran in an attempt to demonstrate the essence of power in terms of aims, methods of provision, and approval of urban plans. Despite the political verbiage of municipal statesmen about the importance of citizen participation and the role of the people in determining their cities’ future destiny, there is no evidence of participation in major urbanism plans. Instead, what governs the atmosphere of urban planning in Iran is materialist rationality and technocracy. Although in one case, small-scale participation occurs in all stages of planning, in general, people’s voices are not heard in urban planning.