Identity Dispersion in New Cities and Approaches to the Formation of an Independent Identity (Case Study: New City of Pardis)

The policy of developing new cities has been adopted in response to the ever-increasing rise in population and its excessive concentration in metropolises. However, a lack of consideration for immigrants' culture and identity has given rise to issues in social sustainability. Moreover, the failure to address population forecasting and incorporate economic planning has disrupted the self-reliance of immigrants in the new city of Pardis. This research aims to investigate the phenomenon of identity dispersion in Pardis and explore approaches to cultivating an independent identity. The qualitative strategy employed in this applied descriptive-analytical study involves content analysis. The target community comprises two groups: the citizens and the urban management staff. Theoretical saturation was reached after conducting interviews with 38 individuals from these groups. Data were collected through targeted, semi-structured interviews, observations, and analysis of urban documents. MAX QDA software was utilized for data analysis. Following coding, ten minor categories and two major categories were identified. The major categories include immigration and the distinctive image of the city, which were found to be distinct entities. The findings of the study reveal that the urban management staffs perceive the enhancement of the city's independent identity to be influenced by the dynamic interaction between the northern and southern parts of Pardis, as well as the establishment of a technopark. On the other hand, residents primarily viewed the employment opportunities provided by the technopark as the most effective means of fostering an independent identity. They also emphasized the importance of leveraging shared ethnic characteristics in defining attractive activities for the community. Overall, this research sheds light on the complexities of identity formation in new cities and proposes potential strategies for cultivating a distinctive identity in Pardis