Spatial Analysis of Social and Cultural Factors as Driving Force and Obstacle in Regional Spatial Planning and in North Khorasan Province

There has been a lot of attention to the role of Social and cultural factors in regional spatial planning and development in two recent decades and concepts such as social capital are considered attractive in this arena. Investigating and analysis the role of social and cultural factors, therefore, is a basic step in regional development planning. According to the above discussion, this article is trying to answer the question: how the situation is in terms of social and cultural factors as driving force or obstacle in regional development in North Khorasan Province? To answer the above question, we have used a survey and qualitative method. Data gathering was done by questioner and formal data delivered by organizations.
The results demonstrate that the counties of North Khorasan Province show different condition according to the social and cultural factors. The results, also, demonstrate that there are some social and cultural factors such as working as a value, the important of working, and social capital that act as driving forces in the process of spatial planning and development of North Khorasan Province. The results, in the other hand, show that the factors such as declining social status of working, various conflicts and opponents, social problems and unemployment are acting as obstacle in the process of spatial planning and development of North Khorasan Province.