Understanding Socio-Political Impact of Urbanization in Tehran

Abstract

Urbanization is a growing concern around the world, but perhaps the threat of unruly urbanization is nowhere as great as it is in the Middle East. While there is a growing body of literature focusing on the environmental and ecological impact of increasing urbanization, there exist fewer investigations into the socio-political change arising from this rapid and sweeping change. This research seeks to add to this untapped field and provide meaningful insights into the socio-political impacts of rapid and ongoing urbanization in Iran. It is surmised that such research can be invaluable for recognizing the political trends and impacts that are likely to emerge in an increasingly urbanized landscape in Iran. The specific questions to be addressed in this research are as follows: What are among the many socio-political impacts associated with rapid urbanization in Tehran? This question will guide the research proposed here. This research helps provide support for the hypothesis that urbanization is an unexplained and intervening variable driving social change as well as Dubaization in Tehran. To be sure, urbanization has disrupted traditional gender roles in the city, raised levels of education, exacerbated inequality in society, and integrated technology into the day-to-day lives of citizens. Moreover, urbanization has facilitated the conditions necessary for the Dubaization of Tehran. Each of these conditions is a major driver of socio-political change in the city and has the potential to create significant change in Tehran overall.