The relationship between “Economy of Resistance” and urban sustainable development

IUESA: Naming the Iranian year 1395 as “Economy of Resistance” indicates a new point; it is not only an idea, theory, motto, goal, or strategy, but it is a scheme including all these issues since the most important aspect of a plan is its functionality and ability to implement. Thus, it is a comprehensive plan that it passed all theoretical steps, development of strategy, purpose definition, and determining method; as the Supreme Leader wanted its final phase i.e. implementation and action.

Cities are one of the arenas that can be discussed in this field. What is the relationship between cities and economy of resistance? How should city management act in this regard? Can urban sustainable development be in line with economy of resistance?

Today, cities are at the front of important problems of global development. Issues such as world healthcare, poverty, inequality, climate change, and population increase in cities have changed them into attractive subjects. It has been estimated that more than 60 percent of the world population to live in cities by 2030 while one out of ten people lived in cities at the beginning of the twentieth century. Another important point is that 90 percent of this growth occurred in less-developed countries confronting with many problems including poverty, unemployment, and marginalization so that 800 million people live in slums and it has been estimated that it will be reach to 2 billion people by 2050.

Many cities have done operational measures in line with urban sustainable development in different fields that the city of Bogota in Colombia can be noted as one of them that 97 km from the city streets are closed to traffic on Sundays in order to increase bicycle use, walking, and reduction of air pollution. Nearly, 1.5 million people use this plan. Guangzhou City, China, presents particular healthcare package to citizens covering millions of them and reducing their health cost.

However, considering these instances, it can be said that it is time for city managers to act practically in this field. Currently, about 73 percent of Iran’s population lives in cities. This requires more accurate look toward the issue of urban sustainable development. Its continuity needs domestic approach and internal capacity i.e. keywords of “Economy of Resistance.” Urban sustainable development is a knowledge-based approach looking for intra and intergenerational equity easily can be seen in the model of “Economy of Resistance.” City managers should follow sustainable finance and revenue in line with Economy of Resistance so that they can continue their activities in case of crisis. Therefore, it seems that there is a full symmetry and overlapping between urban sustainable development and implementation of “Economy of Resistance.”