Initiation of public participation within greater Tehran Municipality: attitudes, theory and practice

This study examines the growing interest in public participation at the local municipal level in Tehran, the capital of Iran. This research paper utilizes a qualitative case study to evaluate a participatory project called ‘Nezarate Hamegani-Center 1888’. First, the study reviews public participation patterns in Iran and focuses on existing foundations of participatory actions in Iranian history as fundamentals to the creation of Center 1888 in 2005. Second, it analyzes the development of Centre 1888, and its qualities and missing elements. As the study demonstrates that the local Iranian officials created Center 1888 to enhance the city management of Tehran’s municipality, it articulates that the project designers failed the consideration of fundamentals for devising an effective participatory project. Further, this study addresses the existing problems within Center 1888 and identifies a number of recommendations which could help improve the center’s objectives and should be considered for conducting future participatory projects.