International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability

Explaining the conceptual model of the role of local government in decentralization of metropolises using thematic analysis method in Tehran city

Document Type : Case Study

Authors
1 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Marv.C., Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran
3 Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Mal.C., Islamic Azad University, Malayer, Iran
Abstract
Decentralization of metropolises has been increasingly considered as an important strategy for creating a balance in development, economic productivity, and quality of life. The present study aimed to examine the role of local governments in decongesting metropolises. The present research method was conducted with a mixed approach. In the qualitative part, a semi-structured interview tool was used. Using the content analysis method and using MAXQDA.PRO.2022 software, data from interviews conducted with 15 academic experts were collected through three coding stages until saturation was reached through the thematic analysis. In the quantitative part, research questionnaires were distributed among 40 experts. Based on the data extracted from the questionnaire, an explanation of the conceptual model was presented. The research findings show that local governments have a direct impact on reducing urban density in the Tehran metropolis and their actions can help improve the living conditions of citizens. Effective coordination between local government departments is essential for achieving the goals of decongestion and sustainable development of urban areas. This research also concludes that the failure to strictly implement existing laws in the direction of decentralization and organization, disregard for the problematic dimensions of concentration, a one-point view of Tehran and failure to consider the urban area as a single whole, failure to simultaneously pursue organization and decentralization policies, and lack of strong will for decentralization are the most important factors in the failure of the effectiveness of decentralization and organization policies in reducing the dimensions of Tehran's issues and problems.

Graphical Abstract

Explaining the conceptual model of the role of local government in decentralization of metropolises using thematic analysis method in Tehran city

Highlights

  • Local governments have a direct impact on reducing urban density in the Tehran metropolis, which can improve citizens' living conditions.
  • Effective coordination between local government departments is essential for achieving decongestion and the sustainable development of urban areas.
  • The study used a mixed-methods approach, with qualitative data from 15 academic experts via semi-structured interviews and quantitative data from 40 experts, analyzed through thematic analysis and MAXQDA.
  • The lack of strict implementation of decentralization laws, neglect of concentration issues, a Tehran-centric view, and the absence of a strong political will for decentralization are key factors undermining policy effectiveness.

Keywords

  • Azizi, M.M. (2016), Density in Urban Development: Principles and Criteria for Determining Urban Density, University of Tehran Press.
  • Broto, V. C. (2017). Urban governance and the politics of climate change. World development, 93, 1-15.
  • Dutta, A., & Fischer, H. W. (2021). The local governance of COVID-19: Disease prevention and social security in rural India. World development, 138, 105234.
  • Hartanto, D., & Siregar, S. M. (2021). Determinants of overall public trust in local government: Meditation of government response to COVID-19 in Indonesian context. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, 15(2), 261-274.
  • Heymans, C. & Totemeyer, G. (1988) “Government by the people? Politics of local government in South Africa. Kenwyn: Juta & Co. Ltd.
  • Kazemian Gh., Meshkini, A., Biglari, Sh. (2020) Evaluation of urban management performance in neighborhood sustainability in District 2 of Tehran Municipality, District 4, Majidieh, Shamsabad and Kalad neighborhoods, Journal of Applied Research in Geographical Sciences, Volume 11,
  • Lerner, D. (2019). The Passing of Traditional Society: Modernizing the Middle East. U.S, The Free Press.
  • Li, Y. (2020). Towards concentration and decentralization: The evolution of urban spatial structure of Chinese cities, 2001–2016. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 80, 101425.
  • Lukas, M. (2019). Urban governance. The Wiley Blackwell encyclopedia of urban and regional studies, 1-11.
  • Matejicek, L; Engst,P; Janour, Z. (2006), A GIS-based approach to spatial_temporal analysis of environment pollution in urban areas: A case study of Prague s environment extended by LIDAR data. Journal of Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, 199, 3, 261-277.
  • Mattingly, M. (1995). Urban management in less developed countries. University College, London, Development Planning Unit.
  • Robson, W (2021) “The development of Local Government”. London, G. Allen & Unwin.
  • Roy, K.C. and Tisdell, C.A. (2020) "Good Governance in Sustainable Development: the Impact of Institutions", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 25, No. 6/7/8.
  • Rumbach, A. (2016). Decentralization and small cities: Towards more effective urban disaster governance? Habitat International, 52, 35-42.
  • Shah, A. (2006). Local Governance in Developing Countries, Public Sector Governance and Accountability, Washington, DC: World Bank, Available at:   https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/7192.
  • Smit, W. (2018). Urban governance in Africa: An overview. African cities and the development conundrum, 55-77.
  • Thomas, G. W. (2012). Governance, good governance, and global governance: conceptual and actual challenges. In Thinking about global governance (pp. 168-189). Routledge.
  • United Nations, UNFPA (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division) (2020), World Urbanization Prospects, REVISION,2014. Urbanism (Hermann, Paris).
  • Vanhaelen, Y. (2018). Centralization, Decentralization, and Metropolization: Cultural Attractors in Brussels Metropolitan Area. The Horizontal Metropolis Between Urbanism and Urbanization, 239-246.
  • Zhang, X. Q. (2016). The trends, promises and challenges of urbanisation in the world. Habitat international, 54, 241-252.
Volume 6, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
Summer 2025
Pages 186-199

  • Receive Date 25 May 2025
  • Revise Date 28 July 2025
  • Accept Date 19 September 2025