Prioritizing Status of Societal Security Index and Ranking Iran's Provinces Based on Societal Security Level Using Gray Relational Analysis (GRA)

Security is considered as one of the main needs of mankind and it has such an important position that some people regard creating and observing security as special duty of each government. Societal security is among basic necessities of each society so that its lack or deficiency results in alarming and pestilent outputs. Accordingly، the main aim of this study is to prioritize status of societal security in Iran and to rank different provinces based on these indices. As such، not only societal security indices which require more attention are identified but provinces which do not enjoy good level of societal security will be realized so that authorities can use such information for required policy makings and planning. Thus، data related to configuration of societal security indices were extracted from statistical yearbook and prioritized using Gray Relational Analysis (GRA). Iran’s provinces were also ranked according to considered indices. Results of the study show that five indices of stealing from state centers، murdering، road accidents، arrested drug smugglers، beating، wounding and injuring are less considered in comparison with other Societal security indices and require more attention of authorities and planners; hence، they can deal with such indices in the direction of improving Societal security level of the country. Moreover، the results of ranking provinces of the country imply that five provinces of Semnan، Qom، Hamadan، Systan and Baluchestan، and Khurasan Razavi do not enjoy proper societal security and are regarded as the provinces with less societal security. Finally، some suggestions are offered for improving societal security level.