Urban Economics and Planning

Urban Economics and Planning

Designing a Regional Inclusive Development System Based on Social Justice Case Study! Border areas of Iran and Pakistan

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Ph.D Candidate in Management Sciences Department, University of Tehran, Iran
2 Professor, Public Policy Department, University of Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Public Policy Department, University of Tehran, Iran
4 Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at National University of Modern Languages (NUML) Islamabad, Pakistan
Abstract
Introduction 
Sistan and Baluchistan province is in the southeastern area of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This province is one of the poorest and most deprived provinces of Iran. Most provinces’ villages lack primary amenities such as plumbing, drinking water, and electricity. The region has not historically developed, although it has significant natural resources, including gas and mineral deposits. The border area between Iran and Pakistan is a geopolitical region because it shows the border between the two countries. Due to the high volume of retardation in this province and its accumulation for many years, education in various educational indicators has a significant difference over other provinces in the country. In most educational indicators, Sistan and Baluchistan are the provinces most deprived of education. With its strategic position, the province has high potential in agriculture, fisheries, and valuable mineral reserves. However, because of the inadequacy of indigenous investment and the lack of skilled manpower, the development of other parts of the country is lagging. Another obstacle in the border provinces of both countries is the lack of citizenship to express and participate in government policies and decisions. Without a fair political process, developing an inclusive development is impossible.  Global politics and governance priorities have found many defects and have allowed governments to work together to manage inclusive development challenges. On the other hand, some problems are serious obstacles to Iran-Pakistani relations and affect the inclusive development of the border provinces of the two countries. Both countries face special challenges due to the lack of coordination with the development organizations of the border provinces and the different views of the authorities and other countries in the region in the field of inclusive development. 
Theorists from 1950 to 1960 considered the development process a set of consecutive stages of economic growth that all countries must go through. It was the first theory about development, the economic theory of development, that the appropriate amount of savings, investment, and foreign aid was considered the only essentials to beat in developed countries. So, development was considered to be synonymous with public and rapid economic growth. The most important criticism of these theories is that they ignore the weakness of institutional arrangements in developing countries. Since the emergence of many newly independent countries in the early years after World War II and their widespread efforts to overcome poverty, backwardness, and “development” as an economic word, this concept has undergone widespread development. In this context, perhaps the most important transformation is the expansion of the concept of development from purely economic growth to a structural transformation that improves the income and non-income dimensions of prosperity and has fair stability and distribution. 
Another aspect of development is sustainable development that meets the needs of the present-day time without endangering the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable development, which initially focused on the environmental aspects of development, now has a broader meaning and implies comprehensive development. Human-centered development, which emerged in the 1980s, emphasizes the role of human capacity and considers development to be the fruit of the development of human abilities. In this approach, apart from being the most important means of achieving development, the most important goal of development is considered. The theories of comprehensive development help us systematically think about how we organize our efforts to facilitate the acquisition of comprehensive development. Purposeful development can be explained by three transformations: first, in terms of the distribution of growth opportunities; second, the development of poverty alleviation; and third, inclusive development. Inclusive development is a development that encompasses various economic, social, environmental, and political dimensions and is sensitive to its distribution to individual, group, and social levels. In the present study, most of the components of inequality, equal access to services, security, poverty and job creation, economic development, and the useful role of experts and citizens have been considered in inclusive development. 
Materials and Methods
The research method used in this article is the Delphi technique. Therefore, in this article, four questions are asked about the subject matter. These questions are: What should be the characteristics of a regional inclusive development system based on social justice in the border regions of Iran and Pakistan? What are the coordinating institutions of inclusive development based on social justice in Iran and Pakistan? What factors are influenced by social justice-based inclusive development for the border regions of Iran and Pakistan? What were the reasons for the failure of social justice programs in the border areas of Iran and Pakistan? 
Findings
The purpose of this study is to plan the regional inclusive development system based on social justice in the border areas of Iran and Pakistan, which can be an effective step towards eliminating inequality, equal access to services, security, poverty alleviation, and job creation, economic development, and useful role for the residents. The areas have been removed.  Undoubtedly, education acts as a basis for empowering individuals and increases the level of awareness and skills of the community. Society’s health also has a direct impact on production and productivity. If people do not have good health, they cannot work and participate in the production of society. Social and economic security are key factors in attracting investment and creating an inclusive development system based on social justice. The existence of security causes stability in society that requires economic growth. The border areas often depend on agriculture, handicrafts, and small-scale industries. A border market enables local manufacturers to access larger and more marketable markets, not only on national borders but also in neighboring countries. This enables them to sell goods at better prices, increase their income, and reduce poverty. Positive cultural relationships can help reduce tensions and political differences. When the people of the two countries become more familiar with each other, the likelihood of misunderstanding and tension decreases. Strong cultural relationships increase the possibility of joint investment in economic projects. The local public participation of the Iranian and Pakistani border provinces in decisions and elections is very important for comprehensive development. This partnership can have many positive impacts on the province’s social, economic, and political development. Social justice can help reduce economic inequality in the border areas. By the just distribution of resources and job opportunities, residents of these areas can benefit from economic opportunities and improve their living conditions. The establishment of social justice strengthens the solidarity and social cohesion between the various tribes living in the border areas. This correlation can reduce ethnic tensions and increase local cooperation. 
In this study, the compound index of social justice-based development is prepared in five dimensions and 30 components. Finally, this study has extended an inclusive regional development system based on social justice in the border areas of Iran and Pakistan and generalized it in the region.  
Conclusion
According to the findings, the social dimension is in solidarity with religious requirements, social identity, cultural relations, racial differences, non-discrimination, and human rights. The dimension of governance is also correlated with the components of accountability, transparency, freedom of expression, the reduction of foreign interventions, the recruitment of local managers and experts, and the coordination between the Iranian and Pakistani border governments. The dimension of social justice is also correlated with equality components, equal access to resources, education, health, infrastructure, and political freedom. The dimension of economic growth is correlated with the components of job creation, poverty reduction, border markets, agricultural infrastructure, free trade zones, and socio-economic dimensions. On the other hand, the components of environmental sustainability are correlated with resource management components, disaster resilience, energy management and waste management, climate change, and public participation in protecting the environment.
According to this study, the above aspects and components should be considered for the regional development system based on social justice; otherwise, inclusive regional development that is based on social justice will not be developed. Considering the factors affecting the pervasive development in the border areas of Iran and Pakistan, it can be concluded that inclusive development in these areas requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach that simultaneously focuses on social, economic, environmental, and governance dimensions. Social cohesion, social justice, economic growth, environmental sustainability, and favorable governance all play a vital role in improving people’s living conditions and reducing the challenges in these areas. Bilateral cooperation between Iran and Pakistan, the active participation of local communities, and the implementation of effective and efficient policies are key factors in achieving comprehensive and inclusive development in these border areas. This study shows that comprehensive development in the border regions of Iran and Pakistan requires a multilateral approach to strengthen social cohesion, governing, and social justice.
Keywords

Subjects


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Volume 6, Issue 1
Winter 2025
Pages 44-57

  • Receive Date 29 January 2025
  • Revise Date 11 February 2025
  • Accept Date 16 February 2025