Analysis and Explanation of Rural Settlements’ Resilience Before and after their Transformation into Cities: A case study the Villages of Bardarashah and Oraman in Kurdistan Province

ABSTRACT
The present research was conducted with the aim of analyzing the impact of this change on the resilience level of the settlements of Uraman and Bardarashah in Kurdistan province. This study is applied in nature and employs a descriptive-analytical approach. Data were collected through library and field studies. The statistical population consisted of 951 households, from which 250 household heads were selected as the sample based on Cochran's formula. Data analysis was performed using Wilcoxon, paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Friedman statistical tests.The results of the paired t-test showed that the overall mean resilience increased from 2.94 to 3.25, which is statistically significant. The greatest increase was related to the economic dimension (0.39 units), indicating the positive impact of urbanization on job opportunities and income. The results of ANOVA and Tukey's test indicated a significant difference among the various resilience dimensions, particularly between the economic and social dimensions. The ranking of variables using the Friedman test also revealed that factors such as allocated budget and access to energy experienced the most improvement, whereas access to credit services saw the least enhancement.In general, the policy of converting villages into cities has had a positive and significant impact on increasing the resilience of the studied settlements; however, this improvement has not been uniform across all dimensions, with economic, institutional, and physical-environmental dimensions showing greater progress compared to the social dimension.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
In recent decades, the concept of resilience has emerged as one of the central themes in the planning and development of human settlements. The focus of policymakers and planners has gradually shifted from the traditional approach of assessing and measuring vulnerability toward enhancing resilience. Resilience refers to the capacity of a settlement to prevent crises, withstand shocks, and recover effectively after disruption. Thus, resilience is not only regarded as a mechanism to reduce vulnerability but also as a pathway to sustainable development. Rural areas, due to structural weaknesses in their economic systems, financial limitations, dependence on traditional livelihood activities, and insufficient institutional infrastructure, have long been considered among the most vulnerable geographic spaces in developing countries, including Iran. To address these challenges, one of the policy measures pursued in the Iranian planning system over the past two decades has been the transformation of eligible villages into towns or small cities. The underlying assumption is that this transformation enhances administrative status, improves access to financial and infrastructural resources, and ultimately strengthens the resilience of the newly urbanized settlements. Such settlements are also expected to serve as regional development hubs. However, the fundamental question remains:
-Does this transformation actually increase resilience, and if so, in which dimensions is improvement most evident, and in which areas do weaknesses persist?
 
Methodology
The research is applied in nature and employs a descriptive–analytical approach. In the theoretical section, documentary methods were used to review literature on resilience, its conceptual foundations, and comparable international experiences. In the empirical section, field-based methods including structured interviews, direct observations, and questionnaire surveys were utilized. The statistical population comprised 951 households across the two settlements. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample size of 250 household heads was determined, and questionnaires were distributed proportionally and randomly across both locations. Data analysis employed a set of inferential statistical tests, including paired-sample t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey’s post-hoc test, and Friedman’s ranking test. These methods allowed for a robust comparison of resilience levels across different dimensions and between the two periods of pre- and post-transformation.
 
Results and Discussion
The findings indicate that the village-to-city conversion policy has led to a significant positive improvement in the overall resilience of the studied settlements. The mean resilience score increased from 2.94 in the pre-conversion period to 3.25 in the post-conversion period, a change that is statistically highly significant. However, the degree of improvement across the four resilience dimensions was not uniform, revealing a heterogeneous pattern. The economic dimension experienced the most substantial progress, with an increase of 0.39 units. This enhancement is primarily attributed to the creation of new job opportunities (especially in border trade and tourism), diversification of livelihood activities, and increased household income. The institutional and physical-environmental dimensions also showed considerable growth, with increases of 0.38 and 0.32 units, respectively, evident in indicators such as increased local budgets, more accountable urban management, improved road networks, access to energy, and health services. In contrast, the social dimension showed the least improvement (an increase of 0.14 units), and comparative analysis (Tukey test) confirmed its status is significantly lower than the other three dimensions. The ranking of variables using the Friedman test further revealed that infrastructure and budget-related variables (e.g., allocated budget and access to energy) improved the most, while variables related to institutions and social capital (e.g., access to credit services and administrative institutions) improved the least. These findings suggest that the policy has been more successful in strengthening the "hard" aspects of development (infrastructure and economy) than the soft aspects (inclusive institutions, social capital, and participation).
Conclusion
This research demonstrates that the village-to-city conversion policy, as a structural intervention, can enhance settlement resilience by mobilizing resources and elevating administrative status. However, the unbalanced improvement across different dimensions, particularly the notable advancement of economic and physical aspects compared to the social dimension, constitutes a significant weakness that may affect the long-term sustainability of these achievements. Sustainable resilience requires a comprehensive and integrated approach where strengthening efficient local institutions, facilitating community access to financial resources, and consolidating social capital and public participation mechanisms are placed at the core of planning, alongside physical and economic development. Therefore, it is recommended that future policymaking move beyond a sole focus on physical and quantitative indicators. By designing institutional and social empowerment programs, the necessary foundation for achieving comprehensive resilience and enduring stability in the face of crises can be established.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
 
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.