A Critical Study of Theoretical approaches to Analysis of Spatial Inequality (with Emphasis on Spatial Inequality in Contemporary Tehran)

The objective of this study is to evaluate certain theoretical approaches that as a general framework, play a central role in analyzing spatial inequality in contemporary Tehran. The aim of this work is to identify the theoretical contribution of each study in connection with other research. Understanding the general framework of spatial inequality analysis, the potentiality of each theory could be outlined and developed. In addition, clarifying the main factors of explaining Tehran's spatial inequality and understanding their similarities and differences, it is hoped that this study could provide the possibility of epistemological and methodological reflection on these basic approaches. Hence, initially through a brief review of the sociological theories focused on explanation of spatial inequality, an overview of the main concepts and assumptions of this field of social science has been presented. After that, exploring the archive of publications on the subject, the theories and opinions of the researchers, specifically those who have investigated on Tehran, have been criticized and reviewed. Using the scope of the literature, all findings are categorized in three levels of analysis, macro, and micro and mezzo, so that based on the level of analysis, the interpreting and analyzing of each theory could be possible. The results show that are some assumptions common between all researches. At the same time, some aspects of Tehran's spatial inequality has not been, sociologically and historically, explored yet or there are more rooms for further investigations. Therefore, on basis of this study, some area of research could be suggested which could develop our understanding about rapid socio-spatial changes in Tehran.