Evaluating the performance of Ahwaz urban management in the framework of good governance and its relationship with the quality of urban life and social capital

Today, due to the problems and challenges of the urban system and the importance of achieving sustainable urban development, there have been changes in the paradigms of urban management and the provision of urban services. This paradigm shift has led to the dominance of good urban governance approach, which has been proposed as the most appropriate and effective way of governing cities today. This approach in managing urban affairs is based on sustainable, democratic and egalitarian development, to influence all actors in urban management and also to meet all the needs of citizens. In fact, today, cities have adopted a new approach to management and governance called good urban governance. Considering that the two most important institutions of urban management in Iran are city councils and municipalities, this study evaluates the performance of urban management in Ahvaz in the framework of good governance and its relationship with social capital and quality of urban life. The statistical population of the study is citizens over 18 years old in Ahvaz in 1398. The sample size is estimated using the Cochran's formula of 400 people. The sampling method is multi-stage cluster. Findings indicate that the indicators of good urban governance (right to comment and accountability, transparency, rule of law, efficiency and effectiveness and participation of individuals) are not at the desired level and urban management (Ahvaz city council and municipality) has not been able to achieve good urban governance. . The findings also showed that there is a significant direct relationship between social capital (social trust and social participation) and the quality of urban life with good urban governance. In addition, the variables of social capital 0.42 and quality of urban life 0.45 have an effect on good urban governance.