Studying the effective factors involved in non-formation of mixed communities in Iranian cities: Content-Analysis

Social cohesion and lack of distinction among individuals based on their socioeconomic features are considered among the most critical goals of Islam, which are called mix communities or diversity in the urban environments these days. Despite the importance of forming mix communities, nowadays cities are encountered with geographical and societal segregation and its consequences such as poverty, deprivation, social distance, individualism and lack of identity, joblessness, stigmatisation and the loss of out-group interactions. Thus, identifying the factors involved in the non-formation of mix communities in cities can contribute to the implementation of Islam's idea and planners to support mix communities as an anti-segregation policy.

Therefore, barriers to the formation of mixed communities were identified through conducting a content analysis in studies dedicated to urban segregation in Iranian cities. Hence, 37 studies which were conducted between  1993-2016, were recognised and considered as data fo the current research.

Results suggested that socioeconomic and governmental interventions factors play more critical roles than other factors in the emergence of urban segregation, either geographical or sociological. The Kramer correlation among these factors also indicated that government interventions have a strong association with socioeconomic and land market factors. Therefore, It can be concluded that governmental decisions and interventions are the primary sources of individuals segregation which hinder mixed communities from shaping. Uneven distribution of goods and services, discriminatory policies and ignoring rural-urban areas are among the most prominent factors led to segregation which are caused by the government. 

Therefore, the most significant challenge which hinders mixed communities from forming is a governmental intervention which not only affected socioeconomic and lands market factors but affected cities and citizens too.