Assessing Dilapidated Urban Areas Renovation Institutional/Structural Challenges

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Department of Urban Planning, Art & Architecture Faculty, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

This study examines the institutional and structural challenges surrounding the renovation of dilapidated and underperforming urban areas in Tehran, with a specific emphasis on conflict resolution among the principal stakeholders engaged in the renewal process. Adopting a post-structuralist perspective and employing the Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) methodology, the research utilizes discourse analysis to explore the underlying narratives, assumptions, and worldviews that inform and sustain conflicts among key actors, including residents, developers, municipal authorities, and governmental institutions. This study highlights the critical need for institutional reform and a shift from quantitative to qualitative frameworks in Tehran’s urban renewal discourse. It calls for an epistemological rethinking that centers justice, public interest, and community engagement. Urban renewal is conceptualized not merely as physical transformation but as a socio-political process shaped by power and discourse. Using Causal Layered Analysis (CLA), the research explores conflicts among actors across four levels: empirical, systemic, discursive, and metaphorical. The findings reveal that institutional fragmentation and conflicting narratives hinder effective renewal. A more integrated governance structure and inclusive discourse are essential for resolving these conflicts. Ultimately, achieving justice-oriented urban renewal in Tehran depends on addressing both structural and conceptual challenges.

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References

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