Analysis of Barriers to Open Local Government in Iran

Open local government, emphasizing three fundamental principles of transparency, participation, and accountability, aims to provide local services, develop local markets, enhance the quality of life for residents (citizens), and address environmental issues, among others. It seeks a space for democratic participation, civil dialogue, and building trust between local officials and the public. The goal of this research is to analyze the barriers to open local government in the country using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis, which faces challenges similar to new governance models in third-world countries, particularly in Iran. The study is based on semi-structured interviews and purposive sampling. The research community consists of 11 experts and scholars knowledgeable about this matter. Based on the findings from the interviews, the themes of barriers to open local government include 55 basic themes and 11 organizing themes categorized into three overarching themes: accountability, transparency, and participation. Identifying these barriers and raising awareness among elected local and regional officials, preventing corruption, enhancing the effectiveness of public services, and encouraging citizen participation through access to open data and better decision-making can help empower local government in Iran.