Analyzing the role of populist considerations in urban housing policy (Case study: Mehr housing project)

Urban housing policy, as one of the most important areas of urban policy has always been considered by urban planners and policy makers. While some populist policies of development with the aim of maximizing adaptation to the conditions of target group, especially their income, have undergone theoretical reductionism and in long run negative economic, physical, environmental, political and socio-cultural effects; trying to reduce these effects is sometimes difficult or costly. In this regard, the "Mehr Housing Plan" has been reviewed in this article, which is seen in the strategic housing-document of the country in 2006 and in paragraph "d" of the 2007 budget law, with emphasis on the low-income target group. The approach of present study is qualitative based on the semi-structured researcher-made questionnaire by purposeful interview at the level of knowledgeable experts. Out of a total of 22 main codes and 22 identified related concepts, 15 main categories have been extracted and analyzed in the form of 4 main research questions According to the findings, in the Mehr housing project, 7 characteristics of populism that can be traced in the idea, implementation and trends of the project have been identified and explained. Emphasis is placed on results orientation and immediate effectiveness of plans, instead of quality orientation, as well as polarization and border and text conflicts.