The Bidirectional Relationship Between Knowledge and Power in Creating Justice-Oriented Urban Spaces (Case Study: The City of Rasht - Comparison of Current and Desired Conditions)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Urbanization, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Urbanization, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Urbanization, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22124/gscaj.2025.26651.1292

Abstract

Nowadays, due to social inequalities and lack of power in a group of people, the search for justice has become one of the goals of planning. Also, ignoring the role of power in formulating the foundations of a justice-centered city is a factor that makes the feasibility of approaches to a justice-centered city doubtful. Therefore, the main goal of this research is to investigate the role of knowledge-power theory in creating justice-oriented urban spaces. This research is an applied-developmental research. The method of collecting library and field information (observation and questionnaire) as well as the statistical community includes the city's citizens and people who are experts and experts in the affairs of urban issues, and the sampling of the statistical community of citizens was done randomly and experts through snowball sampling. Cochran's formula was used to determine the sample size. In order to investigate the position of spatial justice in Rasht city, the research model was evaluated using the structural equation modeling technique and the existing and desired situation was compared with the one-sample T-test. Based on the conceptual framework of the research, the obtained indicators include spatial knowledge, guidance and control, and participation. The results of the research show that it is necessary to identify the role of powers and the influence of influential forces in the society for the fundamental movement of planning. In fact, the justice-oriented city provides an empowering framework for urban actors to improve the quality of life through it.

Highlights

- Addressing the concept of spatial justice in planning systems has a long history. However, focusing on the hidden and less visible aspects of planning theory, specifically the domain of power and its relationship with spatial knowledge, can play a significant role in developing justice-oriented urban spaces.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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