ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the roles of the different actors involved in participation in the urban context and describes examples of specific applied methods of citizens' participation. It provides an overview on the framework conditions for citizen participation in Iran as well as the development of citizen involvement in urban management over the course of time. The book deals with the idea of facilitation offices, an initiative by the Regeneration Organization of Tehran, to handle the very crucial problem of deteriorated areas in Tehran. It illustrates a citizens' exhibition that was undertaken in Hashtgerd New Town, Iran, within the scope of a German-Iranian research project. The book concentrates on the perspectives of different stakeholders on participation in the urban planning process of Iran. It also deals with the practices of citizen participation in informal settlements.
