اثرگذاری سرمایه اجتماعی بر مؤلفه‌های اقتصادی محرک بازآفرینی شهری در محله‌های تاریخی مورد مطالعه: محله فیض‌آباد شهر کرمانشاه

ABSTRACT
Social capital is recognized as a key element in urban regeneration. This type of capital facilitates the regeneration of the local community, and the success of regeneration projects depends on it; weaknesses in its components can have negative effects on these projects. The present study investigates the impact of social capital and its components on the economic factors that drive urban regeneration in the historical neighborhood of Feyzabad in Kermanshah. In this study, 180 questionnaires were completed and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Seven components were identified as elements of social capital: sense of belonging, support from social institutions, acceptance of values, shared understanding, networks, trustworthiness, and civic participation. Additionally, three economic factors driving regeneration were examined, including belief in increased property values, willingness to use loans, and motivation to allocate personal income to projects. The findings indicate that only two components, "sense of belonging" and "shared understanding and cooperation," have a positive and significant impact on the economic factors driving regeneration. However, this influence is not directly observed in other factors. Elements such as "acceptance of values," "civic participation," and "networks, relationships, and communications" have an indirect impact. The relationships among residents (intragroup capital) are in a favorable state; however, their weak connections with governmental institutions and lack of trust in the municipality and government have weakened intergroup and outgroup social capital. Therefore, the inefficiencies of the municipality and government have limited the potential of social capital in the historical neighborhood of Feyzabad for sustainable regeneration.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Social capital is recognized as a vital element in the structure of society, formed through trust, participation, and relationships among individuals. Research studies indicate that this concept is not limited to explaining inequalities in access to resources but also plays a pivotal role in the process of neighborhood regeneration and the enhancement of local policies. Findings suggest that the success of urban regeneration projects requires the spontaneous participation of the local community and the strengthening of social capital through the adoption of bottom-up (people-centered) approaches.
Within the theoretical domain, numerous studies have analyzed the role of social capital in urban regeneration. Researchers have identified various indicators, including trust, participation, sense of place, and social cohesion, as influential variables in facilitating this process. Accordingly, contemporary urban planning approaches emphasize the integration of social capital components as a strategic paradigm for attaining desirable urban regeneration outcomes.
Social capital, as a fundamental component of local community development, plays a pivotal role in facilitating collective interactions and strengthening public participation to achieve common goals. This concept holds particular strategic importance in urban regeneration processes, which require coordination and collaboration among multiple stakeholders. In contemporary times, historic urban texture that once served as hubs of socio-cultural dynamism now face numerous challenges, including declining residential rates and reduced activity levels due to structural disconnections in spatial organization and weakened face-to-face interactions. This trend has increasingly highlighted the necessity for a comprehensive and informed approach to urban planning and design; an approach capable of utilizing local community capacities to facilitate both functional and physical revitalization of these neighborhoods, ultimately enhancing urban living conditions. Based on these premises, the present study aims to examine the impact of social capital and its constituent components on the economic drivers of urban regeneration in the historical neighborhood of Feyzabad in Kermanshah.
 
Methodology
This study is classified as applied research. Given its focus on examining the causal relationship between components of social capital (derived from prior literature) and economic drivers of urban regeneration, the study adopts a positivist paradigm and quantitative methodological framework. In alignment with the variables identified in the theoretical framework and conceptual model, relevant indicators were developed for questionnaire construction, with their validity verified by five domain experts. The data collection instrument comprised a 69-item closed-ended questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert scale (ranging from "Very High" [5] to "Very Low" [1]).
This study examines seven independent components of social capital, networks, relationships and communications, trust, shared understanding and cooperation, acceptance of values, civic participation, sense of belonging, and support and importance of social institutions and along with three dependent economic components that stimulate urban regeneration confidence in property value appreciation through regeneration investments, willingness to use government loans and facilities for regeneration, and the level of willingness to spend personal income on regenerating one's residential area. The questionnaires were distributed randomly throughout the neighborhood, and ultimately, 180 completed questionnaires were collected. Given the small sample size based on Henseler's rule, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed. Data preparation and preprocessing were performed using Excel and SPSS software. The structural equation modeling was then conducted using Smart PLS software in two steps: the measurement model to assess validity, reliability, and model fit, and the structural model to test the hypotheses.
 
Results and discussion
Two components, sense of belonging with an impact coefficient of 0.464 and shared understanding and cooperation with an impact coefficient of 0.432, have a positive and significant effect on economic regeneration at a 95% confidence level. Although other components of social capital do not have a direct and significant impact on the economic drivers of regeneration, they indirectly influence it. Civic participation and communication networks contribute to urban regeneration by strengthening the sense of belonging and the acceptance of values, mediated through civic engagement.
The weak social capital in this neighborhood is linked to very low trust in governmental institutions (municipality, state) and poor participation in formal meetings and public events. The ineffective performance and unfavorable policies of the municipality and state institutions have further eroded social capital in the area, simultaneously slowing down urban regeneration. It could be argued that bonding social capital (local relationships) remains relatively stable, but linking social capital requires urgent improvement.
 
Conclusion
Urban deteriorated areas, such as the Feyzabad neighborhood in Kermanshah, possess multidimensional values (social, physical, economic, cultural, and environmental) and require integrated planning that places social capital at its core. This study reveals that in Feyzabad, while bonding social capital (e.g., neighborhood ties) remains strong, severe deficiencies in bridging and linking social capital (connections with institutions outside the neighborhood) hinder development. This gap necessitates strengthening local intermediary institutions to foster linkages between residents and power structures.
Past programs in Feyzabad have largely followed a top-down and opportunistic approach, leading to the erosion of social capital. To achieve sustainable regeneration, it is essential to engage residents in active participation and cultivate "new social capital" (emphasizing extra-neighborhood connections) to balance historical values with modern standards. This shift requires moving toward community-driven interventions and empowering civil society organizations, ensuring that regeneration is not merely physical but also rooted in the real needs of the community.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content 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.