Population Management for Happiness and Well-Being: Integrating Ancient Religious Wisdom and Postmodern Approaches in Rural-Urban Planning for Iran
Keywords:
SDGs, Digital urbanism, Iran's National Development, Law on Prevention of Urban Sprawl, Ali Shariati, Al-Madina Al-FazilaAbstract
Effective population management has become essential for enhancing happiness and well-being in contemporary societies, particularly as urbanization continues to escalate globally. This study highlights the significance of integrating ancient religious wisdom with modern rural-urban planning approaches, as ancient Iranian religions offer valuable insights into harmonious living and social welfare. For instance, Zoroastrian teachings emphasise “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds” (Yasna 12:9), Mandaean scriptures advocate for balance and righteousness (Ginza Rba 17:1) and Yarsani beliefs promote compassion and community cohesion. Armenian Catholic and Georgian Orthodox traditions further stress social justice, reflecting similar values found in Islamic teachings, such as the Quranic principle: “And We have created you in pairs” (Quran 78:8).
This study investigates: (1) How principles from ancient Iranian religions can be effectively incorporated into modern rural-urban planning to enhance happiness and well-being and (2) Which postmodern planning approaches used in the reconstruction of Bam city after the 2003 earthquake could complement these ancient insights to develop sustainable and equitable population management strategies. Additionally, it explores why the “World Happiness Index 2024” ranks Iran 100th, despite its advanced level of hyper-cognitive geo-designing of rural and urban spaces compared to Kuwait (13th), Saudi Arabia (28th), Uzbekistan (47th) and Iraq (92nd).
By examining the works of Fatemah Farnaz Arefian & Seyed Hossein Iradji Moeini (2015), Hans-Liudger Dienel, M. Reza Shirazi & Sabine Schroder (2017) and Rana Habibi (2020), this research utilizes cross-cultural comparisons based on “Vancouverism” (Beasley & Barnett, 2015) and “Hyper-Cognitive Neo-Urbanism” (Fan, 2017). It positions Iran as a modern case study for exhibiting happiness and routine-satisfaction than the region around. The findings will address how integrating ancient religious values into modern planning can restructure cities to promote both economic vitality and human flourishing.
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