Explaining objective forces, driving forces, and causal mechanisms affecting the formation and expansion of the peri-urban areas: A critical realism approach

Hashem Dadashpoor and Somayeh Ahani

Land Use Policy, 2021, vol. 102, issue C

Abstract: Accelerated urbanization in peri-urban areas of metropolises is one of the emerging issues of the past decades which has numerous physical, social, economic, and environmental consequences in these areas. Such a process converts the peri-urban areas into a challenging part, the guidance of which requires a comprehensive understanding of them in all its dimensions. The most important of these dimensions are effective forces and mechanisms in the formation and expansion of peri-urban areas around metropolises. With this in mind, this paper, using a critical realism approach and a systematic review, explains first the effective objective forces in the formation and expansion of peri-urban areas in the form of different patterns of peri-urbanization. Then, the driving forces affecting these patterns are examined. Finally, the underlying causal structures and mechanisms affecting these forces are explained. The results indicate a three-level framework including (a) the objective forces including centripetal and centrifugal forces; (b) the driving forces in the form of structural driving forces, functional driving forces, and institutional driving forces; and (C) the underlying causal structures and mechanisms. This framework can lead to a deep understanding of peri-urban areas and open new horizons for urban and regional planners to solve the challenges of these areas.

Keywords: Peri-urbanization; Peri-urban areas; Metropolitan area; Peri-urban expansion; Peripheral areas; Objective force; Driving force; Mechanism; Structure; Critical realism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:102:y:2021:i:c:s0264837720325709

DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105232

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