Document Type : Research
Authors
1
PhD Student in Geography and Rural Planning, Faculty of Geography,University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2
Professor, Department of Human Geography and Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3
Associate Professor, Department of Human Geography and Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Rural development, due to its multiple dimensions, has a multi-sectoral nature, and for this reason, several and diverse stakeholders, organizations, and institutions, including governmental, public, private, and non-governmental organizations, can have a part to play and exert an impact. Hence, one of the main conditions for efficient management and planning in rural development is cooperation and cohesion of stakeholders. Network analysis is a method well suited for identifying and assessing the level of cooperation and cohesion of organizational stakeholders. The present study was conducted to analyze the model of the cooperation network of organizational stakeholders in rural development in Qazvin province. This is an applied study with a descriptive and analytical design. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The statistical population of the study consisted of 36 organizations and institutions involved in rural development of the province. Network analysis indicators at both macro and intermediate levels, and UciNet and NetDraw software were used for research analysis. The results showed that despite the importance of cooperation between rural development stakeholders, it is still undesirable at the provincial level. Accordingly, the network density is 37.3%, the transferability is 27.2%, and the network size is 47% of the total links, indicating poor stability and low institutionalization of links in the cooperation network. Also, most of the established links among stakeholders suggest high concentration on external links (46.77%) compared to internal links (32.08%), which exhibits the pivotal role of central actors in network links. It is also the main factor underpinning the weak level of cooperation and convergence in the rural development network of the province. In this regard, promoting and improving convergence in the cooperation network and strengthening the position of intermediary organizations are considered key strategies to foster the cooperation network of rural development stakeholders in Qazvin province.
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