Analysis the Environmental Dimensions of the development plans of the Islamic Republic of Iran using Grounded Theory

Development plans define the strategy, framework, and pattern of governance and political management of space. These plans address various dimensions and aspects of governance, one of the most important aspects of which is the environmental dimension. This study, by using grounded theory in the form of a model of core categories, causal categories, context categories, interventionist categories, strategic categories, and consequences, answers the following question: what are the environmental dimensions of development plans in the Islamic Republic of Iran? After studying all development plans, 328 statements have been extracted separately for each plan. In accordance with the statements extracted in the development plans, 404 basic concepts (open coding) were identified. Then, considering content subscriptions of the open coding, 77 sub-categories and 16 main categories were generated. Also, using theoretical foundations, ecology, experts’ opinions, and researcher’s judgment axial coding was done. The results show that the main categories include axial categories ("Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation" and "Climate Change Management"), causal categories ("decentralization" and "institutional fit in accordance with environmental issues"), context categories (“environmental research,” Environmental diplomacy, environmental security, and family planning), interventionist categories (“welfare and social development” and “good governance”), strategic categories (“ecology adaptation,” “consumption pattern improvement,” and “spatial planning”), and consequences (“Green Economy” and “Green Transport”) interconnected in a paradigmatic framework.