Factors Affecting the Promotion of Social Integration of Citizens by Designing Ritual Theater in Urban Environments (Case Study: Ardabil)

Shows and the traditional rituals especially Tazieh and Shabihkhaani as dynamic cultural elements, which have originated from human beliefs, play an important role in increasing the individuals’ social links. Theory of social links of anything as the framework of the research, is considered as the subcategory of social control theory and its components are social involvement, belief, interest and obligation. Ardabil as the city of Hoseineiyat with a rich history of traditional ritual shows of the region and holding ritual mourning ceremonies, Tazieh and mourning during Muharram, has been selected as the case study of the research. The aim of the study is to investigate the role of ritual theater in creating social links; and it studies the impact rate of such an atmosphere in social bonds of the individuals. Results show that there is a significant relationship among the criterion variables such as commitment, interest, belief and social participation and predictive variable of ritual theater and interest component has a considerable effect on social bonds of individuals with ritual theater. Ritual theater not only rehabilitates the ritual- local plays of the region and transfers it to the next generation, but also promotes social bonding of individuals in Ardabil. Cconsidering the developed aspect of this kind of theater, it is effective in other cities too.