Investigating and evaluating the role of citizen participation in the renovation and improvement of dilapidated urban fabric (case study of the city of Fallujah, Iraq)

Abstract:

Citizen participation plays a central and undeniable role in the success of urban renewal and improvement projects. This participation goes beyond physical and financial presence, meaning the active involvement of residents in all stages of the project, from identifying needs and prioritizing to design, implementation, and maintenance.Such participation leads to the creation of a space that is not only physically enhanced, but also socially vibrant and dynamic, and restores a sense of local identity and pride. The purpose of this research is to investigate and evaluate the role of citizen participation in the renovation and improvement of the dilapidated urban fabric of Fallujah. The type of research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of method. The required information was collected through library and survey studies. The statistical population of the study is the residents of the dilapidated urban area of Fallujah with a population of about 35,000 people, of which 384 people were selected as a statistical sample using the Cochran formula. The research area is the dilapidated urban area of Fallujah, Iraq. SPSS statistical software was used for analysis and the geographic information system was used for drawing maps. The research findings showed that the socio-cultural, physical and infrastructural dimensions of citizen participation in the renovation and improvement of the dilapidated fabric of Fallujah, Iraq, were below average with an average of 2.54 and 2.64, respectively, and were not at a desirable level. Also, the economic and socio-cultural components were above the hypothetical average with an average of 3.34 and 3.26, respectively, which indicates the significant impact of these components on citizen participation in the renovation and improvement of the dilapidated fabric of Fallujah, Iraq. Therefore, it can be concluded that the low level of social, cultural, and physical participation of citizens in the dilapidated fabric of Fallujah indicates a weak connection between people and urban institutions, which prevents the realization of sustainable development. This situation has led to continued physical erosion and a decrease in the quality of life in deprived areas of the city.