Space Economy and Rural Development

Space Economy and Rural Development

Developing an Appropriate Model for the Formation of Creative Settlements in Rural Areas with Emphasis on Rural Development (A Case Study of Rural Settlements in Rashtkhwar County, Iran)

Document Type : Research

Authors
1 Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Planning, University of Sistan and Baluchestan. Zahedan, Iran
2 Department of Rural Geography, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Planning, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Rural areas in many developing countries are increasingly confronted with economic, social, and environmental challenges that contribute to social exclusion, poverty, and population decline. In this context, the concept of creative settlements has emerged as an innovative approach for revitalizing rural communities and promoting sustainable development. The present study aimed to identify an appropriate model for the formation of creative rural settlements in Rashtkhwar County, located in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran.
Methods: This research employed a descriptive–analytical methodology. Relevant indicators were identified through documentary studies and preliminary field investigations. Data were collected using field observation forms, expert questionnaires, and household surveys. The collected data were analyzed using Fuzzy DEMATEL and SPSS software. The findings revealed that participation was the most influential component in the formation of creative rural settlements, with a mean score of 4.05. Furthermore, 70.3% of surveyed households reported an increase in the process of creative settlement formation during the last decade, whereas 21.2% perceived a decline.
Results: The results indicate that rural participation, social cohesion, occupational diversification, local leadership capacity, and the promotion of creative ideas significantly contribute to the emergence and development of creative settlements.
Conclusions: The study concludes that the participatory model represents the most effective framework for fostering creative rural settlements in Rashtkhwar County. Strengthening participatory mechanisms can enhance other dimensions of creativity and innovation, thereby accelerating rural development and improving the resilience and sustainability of rural communities.
Keywords

Anwar mchenry, J. (2011). Rural Empowerment through Hearts? The role of thearts in civic and social participation in the Mid-West Region of Western Australia. Journal of Rural Studies 27 (3): 245–253. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743016711000209
Anderson, L. (2010). Magic Light, Silver City: The Business of Culture in Broken Hill. Aust. Geogr. 41 (1), 71-85. https://www.taylorfrancis.com
Ahmadi, A., Niknam, S. & Ghadermarzi, H. (2014). The Evaluation and Analysis of Physical Development’s Indicators in Rural Settlements with an Emphasis on Sustainable Development Approach; Case Study: Villages Surrounding the City of Sanandaj, Iran. Switzerland Research Park Journal, 103(1), 624-637. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?
Abrishami,H. , Bidram,R. , Majed,V. & Bakhshayesh. E. (2020). The Feasibility Study of Sustainable Rural Development through the Development of Creative Industries: A Case Study of Handicrafts in Selected Villages of Isfahan Province. Village and Development, 22(4), 51-69. https://doi.org/10.30490/rvt.2020.289507.1069
Azkia, M. & Kamour, N. (2013). Sustainable development of rural tourism in Chashem village, Mehdi Shahr county, Iranian Journal of Social Development Studies, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, 5(3), 107-122. https://doi.org/10.22080/tmhr.2023.26184.1002
Ataei, P, Norouzi, A & Morad Haseli, S. (2016). Analysis of social studies on the formation of water users associations in the direction of sustainable development (Case study: Firuzabad plain irrigation and drainage network, Fars province). The first national conference with a new approach in regional sustainable planning and development, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht Branch. https://civilica.com/doc/571816
Bosworth, G. (2008). Entrepreneurial In-Migrants and Economic Development in Rural England. Int. J. Entrep. Small Bus. 63 (6), 355-369. https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/abs/10.1504/IJESB.2008.019132
Babaei, M, Basiri Tochaei, M. & Badragnejad, A. (2019). Analysis of population growth and socio-economic development trends of peri-urban villages in Urmia city. Development of Peri-urban Spaces, 1(1), 139-150.
Cooke, P. & Lazzeretti, L. (2008). Creative Cities, Cultural Clusters and Local Economic Development, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, Ma: Edward Elgar, P62. https://books.google.com/books?
Dcms Creative Industries Task Force (1998). Creative Industries: Mapping Document. Dcms, London. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?
Can, D. & Ngo, V. (2017). Building “Creative Tourism” In Duong Lam Ancient Village. International Journal of Management and Applied Science, 3 (7), 79-83. https://scholar.google.com
Chekmarev, O. P., Lukichev, P. M., Konev, P. A., & Ulimbashev, A. Z. (2022). Development of Rural Cooperation as a Basic Element of Their Sustainable Development. In Сooperation and Sustainable Development (pp. 1131-1139). Springer, Cham. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-77000-6_132
Einali, J, Mohammadi-Yeganeh, B, & Ghasemlou, H. (2019). The role of creative tourism in the sustainable development of rural areas (case study: historical-cultural villages in the northwest of the country), Journal of Rural Research and Planning, 8(2), 19-39. https://civilica.com/doc/679438/.
Florida, R. (2005). Cities and the Creative Class, Oxon: Routledge.
Gholamrezadeh Noghan, Z., Daneshvarkakhki, F., Sabohi, M., & Sabouni, M. (2015). Modeling rural tourism with emphasis on sustainable rural development indicators. Master's thesis, Department of Agricultural Economics, Ferdowsi University.
Ghasemlou, H., Einali, J., & Mohammadiyaneh, B. (2017). The role of tourism in sustainable rural development with a creative tourism approach (case study: a historical-cultural village in the northwest of the country). Master's thesis in Geography and Rural Planning - Physical Planning Orientation, University of Zanjan.
Kazana, V., & Kazaklis, A. (2009). Exploring Quality of Life Concerns in the Context of Sustainable Rural Development at the Local Level: A Greek Case Stud Reg. Environ. Change 9(3), 209- 219. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10113-008-0056-6
Kalantari, K., Asadi, A., & Choubchian, S. (2009). Development and validation of sustainable development indicators for rural areas. Urban and regional studies and research, University of Isfahan, 1(2), 56-69. https://www.sid.ir/journal/487/fa
Jopek, D. (2013). Good City Form, Creative NewYork, the Idea of Creative City, The Urban Policy Debate, Cracow. https://scholar.google.com
Jahanti'e, H. A, Anabastani, A. A, Mir Lotfi, M. R,N & Kharazmi, O. A. (2019). Analysis of key drivers of the impact of creative village indicators on the sustainability of rural settlements with a futures research approach (case study: Sistan), Quarterly Journal of Rural Development Strategies, 7(3), 323-345. https://doi.org/10.22048/rdsj.2021.257221.1885
Jahanti'e, H. A., Anabastani, Ali. A., Mir Lotfi, M. R., & Kharazmi, O. A. (2017). Analysis of the impact of creative village indicators on the sustainability of rural settlements (case study: Sistan region), Quarterly Journal of Geography and Urban-Regional Planning, 11(38), 71-96. https://doi.org/10.22111/gaij.2021.6110
Kushalakshi, D. A. (2014), Rural Entrepreneurship: A Catalyst for Rural Development, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 3 (8), 51-54. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?
Habibi, M., Barul, Sh., Khojasteh, M.,  & Nahdilkia, P. (2010). Rural Design, Participation and Sustainable Development. Quarterly Journal of Housing and Rural Environment, 29(132), 16-3. http://jhre.ir/article-1-21-fa.html
Hassanzadeh, D., & Izadi Jiran, A. (2009). Investigating the Position of Sustainable Development in Rural Communities of Iran. Quarterly Journal of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabatabaei University, 17(36): 55-27. https://jnoe.ut.ac.ir/issue_2062_3745.html
Le Tourneau, F., Marchand, G., Greissing, A., Nasuti, S., Droulers, M., Bursztyn, M., Le ´Na, P., & Dubreuil, V. (2015). The Duramaz Indicator System: A Cross-Disciplinary Comparative Tool for Assessing Ecological and Social Changes in the Amazon.Royal Society. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rstb.2012.0475
Le Tourneau, F., Marchand, G., Greissing, A., Nasuti, S., Droulers, M., Bursztyn, M., Le ´Na, P., & Dubreuil, V (2013). Assessing the Impacts of Sustainable Development Projects in the Amazon: The Duramaz Experiment. Sustain Sci, 8,199–212. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-013-0200-1
Marzban, S., & Hayati, D. (2022). A review on Neoendogenous Rural Development Approach and Its Applicability in Iran Sustainable Rural Development Programs. Community Development (Rural and Urban Communities). https://jrd.ut.ac.ir/article_85422_en.html
Mcgranahan, D.A., Wojan, T.R., & Lambert, D.M. (2011). the Rural Growth Trifecta: Outdoor Amenities, Creative Class and Entrepreneurial Context. J. Econ. Geogr. 1, 529- 557. https://academic.oup.com/joeg/article-abstract/11/3/529/951310
Mcgranahan, D.A., Wojan, T.R,. (2007), Recasting the Creative Class to Examine Growth Processes in Rural and Urban Counties. Reg. Stud. 41 (2),197- 216. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00343400600928285
Mousavi, S. R., Mousavi, S. P., & Boromandan, F. (2014). Futures Studies: Applied Knowledge in Rural Development, Third National Futures Studies Conference, Tehran. https://www.sid.ir/seminar/issue/549/fa
Mousavand, J., Mahmoudi, S. M., & Cheraghi, R. (2013). Rural Tourism Development Towards Sustainable Development (Case Study: Syrian Village, Baneh County). Quarterly Journal of Tourism Space, Islamic Azad University, Malayer Branch, 2(8), 81-97. https://www.sid.ir/journal/871/fa
Mahdavi, D., Rokneddin Eftekhari, A., & Sejasi Qaidari, H. (2016). Designing strategies for sustainable tourism development in Iran's historical-cultural villages, Journal of Geography and Planning, University of Tabriz, 20(56), 75-100. https://geoplanning.tabrizu.ac.ir/issue_137_787.html
Mokhtari Malekabadi, R., Marmousi, N., Esmaeil, A. A. & Amini, D. (2015). Native Indicators of Creative Cities with an Iranian-Islamic Approach, Scientific-Research and International Quarterly Journal of the Iranian Geographical Society, 13(47), 161-177. https://elmnet.ir/export/1530994-24718?type=BibTeX.
Peng, K., & Yang, Y. (2013), An Exploratory Study on Creative City From the Citizen's Point of View, IJCCI, 1(1), 1-20. https://scholar.archive.org/work
Pourtaheri, M. & Naqvi, M. R. (2012). Physical development of rural settlements with a sustainable development approach (concepts, theories, strategies). Quarterly Journal of Housing and Rural Environment, Natural Disaster Research Institute, 31(137), 53-70. http://jhre.ir/article-1-329-fa.html
Romein, A., & Trip, J. (2010). Key Elements of Creative City Development: An Assessment of Local Policies in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Delft University of Technology, OTB Research Institute for Housing, Urban and Mobility Studies, Jaffalaan 9, Delft, the Netherlands. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=e64ea9115f856cea681654ede15451c209546e42
Rokneddin Eftekhari, A., Mahdavi, D., & Pourtaheri, M. (2010), The process of localization of sustainable development indicators of rural tourism in Iran, Journal of Rural Research, University of Tehran, 1(4), 41-1. https://journal.ut.ac.ir/issue_2168_2268_.html
Rast-Qalam, M., Sayed Eskandar, & Nouri, S-A. (2016). Determining the key drivers of the creative village approach using the Miq-Maq software, Quarterly Journal of Rural Research, University of Tehran, 7(3): 319-329. https://civilica.com/doc/1428084
Rahimi, M., Mard Ali, M., Daha, E., & Falehzadeh, A. (2013), Creative City - Theoretical Foundations and Indicators, Tehran City Planning and Studies Center, First Edition.
Rahimi, A. (2011), A note on the position of the development of transformation industries in rural development.
Sheludkov, A., Kamp, J., & Müller, D. (2021). Decreasing labor intensity in agriculture and the accessibility of major cities shape the rural population decline in postsocialist Russia. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 62(4), 481-506. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15387216.2020.1822751
Sciubba, J. D. (2012). Demography and instability in the developing world. Orbis, 56(2), 267-277. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0030438712000105
Sefertzi. E. (2000). Creativity Report Produced for the EC funded project called INNOKEGIO: dissemination of innationad and knowledge management techniques. Stockholm School of Economics in Riga https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=6061891033836711552&as_sdt=2005&sciodt=0,5&hl=fa
Soemaryani, I., & Prasetyo, A. R. (2021). STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP MODEL IN DEVELOPING THE LOCAL ART AND CULTURE-BASED CREATIVE ECONOMY. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 20(1), 1-9. https://search.proquest.com/openview/caf951e06e5ad3d66246feee7d93de96/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=38745
Sejasi Qeidari, H., Sadeghloo, T., & Shohadadi, A. (2015). The effects of globalization on lifestyle changes in rural Nohi, Quarterly Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities, 7(4), 188-153. https://doi.org/10.7508/isih.2015.28.006
Shia, I., Daneshpour, S. A., & Rousta, M. (2014). Developing a model of spatial indicators of social sustainability using the Delphi method and Shannon technique, Armanshahr Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning, 10(19), 119-129. https://www.armanshahrjournal.com/issue_5863_6049.html
Salehpour, S., Esmaeil-zadeh, H., & Karimi, K. (2017). Mutual effects of sustainable tourism development with sustainable development of local communities (case study: Naqadeh County). Quarterly Journal of Tourism Space, Islamic Azad University, Malayer Branch, 6(21), 41-61. https://sanad.iau.ir/Journal/gjts/Article/999586/FullText
Thomas, N.J., Harvey, D.C. & Hawkins, H. (2013) Crafting the Region: Creative Industries and Practices of Regional Space. Regional Studies 47 (1), 75–88. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00343404.2012.709931
Townsend, L., Wallace, C., Fairhurst, G., & Anderson, A. (2017). Broadband and the Creative Industries in Rural Scotland. Journal of Rural Studies. 54, 451-458. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743016716303436
Walter, J., Lechner, C., & Kellermanns, F. W. (2007). Knowledge transfer between and within alliance partners: private versus collective benefits of social capital, Journal of Business Research, 60, 698–710. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014829630700063X
Yasuri, M., & Sojoodi, M. (2017). Rural Entrepreneurship; A Way to Realize Creative Villages, First Conference on New Ideas and Technologies in Geographical Sciences, University of Zanjan, 1-14. https://civilica.com/doc/679463
Zhou, L., Cheng, X., Wall, G., & Zhang, D. (2023). Entrepreneurial networks in creative tourism place-making: Dali village, Wuhan, China. Tourism Geographies, 25(1), 220-242. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14616688.2020.1866056
Zeller, M. (2006). Rural Development Theory and Policy. Germany: University of Hohenheim. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?

  • Receive Date 17 May 2025
  • Revise Date 06 February 2026
  • Accept Date 25 March 2026
  • First Publish Date 08 June 2026