The Impact of Development Inequality on Security in Border and Non-Border Provinces of Iran: A Comparative Study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Ph.D Student in Spatial Planning, Department of Geography, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

Abstract

The main goal of this research is to examine the relationship between development and security in the border and non-border provinces of Iran. The research method is applied in nature and descriptive-analytical in type. The data has been collected from library sources. The collected data was analyzed quantitatively using EXCEL, GIS, and SPSS software. The OPA model has been used for weighting the indicators, the VIKOR multi-criteria decision-making method was used to assess the development and security status, the GWR method was used to find the relationship between variables, and the two-sample t-test was used to examine the difference between the development and security. The results indicate that based on the independent two-sample t-test, there is no significant difference in the level of development and security between the border and non-border provinces. The results of the GWR test show that in border provinces, 42% of the level of security is predicted by development, while this ratio reaches 63% in non-border provinces. Iran's planning system, relying on neoclassical theory and the center-periphery model, has created development inequalities among border and non-border provinces over time. In addition, recent events in Iran's border regions have created numerous security challenges that can have a significant impact on the development process of these regions. Therefore, to eliminate existing inequalities and improve the level of development in border regions, it is necessary to design and implement macro and micro policies by considering all existing dimensions and challenges, especially in the field of security.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

 
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Geography and Development
Volume 23, Issue 80 - Serial Number 80
September 2025
Pages 99-128

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  • Receive Date: 01 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 12 February 2025

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