A Critical Review of Spatial Justice Studies at the Supra-Urban Scale in Iran

As with all scholarly inquiry, investigations of spatial justice derive their analytical frameworks from fundamental philosophical assumptions about the nature of space and knowledge. This study undertakes a critical examination of Iranian spatial justice research at supra-urban scales, with particular attention to how such studies engage with core paradigmatic concepts of spatiality. Our dual objectives involve: (۱) rearticulating the philosophical foundations and spatial paradigms that should inform such research, and (۲) systematically evaluating existing studies' adherence to spatial research's epistemological and methodological requirements. Employing a conceptual framework methodology, this investigation combines traditional library research with rigorous logical analysis. The meta-synthesis approach enables systematic review and thematic categorization of key characteristics across the body of existing studies. This analytical process reveals three primary dimensions for critical assessment: First, at the ontological level, we assess how studies conceptualize the very nature of spatial relationships in justice contexts. Second, epistemologically, we examine their approaches to generating valid knowledge about spatial justice phenomena. Third, methodologically, we evaluate their research designs and analytical techniques against spatial paradigm requirements. Through this tripartite evaluation, the study identifies significant conceptual gaps in current Iranian spatial justice research, particularly regarding the integration of spatial theory with empirical investigation at supra-urban scales. The findings highlight both theoretical weaknesses in engaging with spatial paradigms and methodological shortcomings in addressing the complex, multi-scalar nature of spatial justice issues.

کلیدواژه ها:

Justice Issue ، Spatiality ، Spatial Justice ، Critique of Conceptual Framework ، مساله عدالت ، فضامندی ، عدالت فضایی ، نقد بنیان های نظری