Analysis of Smart Governance Dimensions to Achieve Social Justice and Improve Citizens’ Health Using E-Participation Technologies
Keywords:
Smart City, Smart Governance , E-Participation, Citizen Health, Social JusticeAbstract
The purpose of the present study was to analyze the dimensions of smart governance and to examine the role of e-participation in achieving social justice and urban health. This study employed a mixed-methods design (exploratory–confirmatory). In the qualitative phase, using thematic analysis based on expert interviews, 33 basic themes and 9 organizing themes were identified out of 176 indicators, leading to the extraction of the overarching theme of “smart governance based on e-participation for achieving social justice and enhancing health.” In the quantitative phase, the qualitative findings were validated using the Delphi method, Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) techniques. The ISM results showed that smart infrastructures, smart strategies, and innovation support were the driving variables, while smart governance appeared as the dependent variable at the highest level of the model. Furthermore, the PLS results indicated that all constructs demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity, and the coefficient of determination (R² = 0.201) confirmed the acceptable fit of the model. Ultimately, this study emphasizes that e-participation plays a key role in strengthening transparency, accountability, and social justice, while enhancing citizens’ health as the primary outcome of smart governance. The findings can serve as guidance for urban managers and policymakers in pursuing sustainable and justice-oriented development of smart cities.
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Copyright (c) 2025 حوریه عابدپور (نویسنده); احمد رضا کسرائی; محمدعلی کرامتی, حسن مهرمنش (نویسنده)
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