Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
M.A. in Local Development, Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Social Development, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jisr.2026.410845.1719
Abstract
Introduction
The timely development of national infrastructure is a prerequisite for economic growth and improved quality of life in contemporary societies. The electricity industry, as one of the most critical national infrastructures, plays a key role in economic and social development. Power transmission line projects, due to their linear and extensive nature, affect vast areas of land, natural resources, and human communities, often encountering local opposition and non-participation. In Iran, particularly within the Fars Regional Electric Company, local stakeholders—often labeled as "opponents"—have become key actors influencing the outcomes of transmission line projects. The technical characteristics and economic regulations of transmission networks, coupled with increased public awareness and shifting attitudes of local communities, have made it essential to design innovative approaches for organizing community participation in grid development. Despite the importance of this issue, very few studies have specifically focused on participation in power transmission line projects in Iran. This study aims to investigate the barriers to local community participation in power transmission line projects and provide solutions for improvement.
Method
This research employs a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. The study area covers the service region of Fars Regional Electric Company(FREC), one of Iran's sixteen regional electricity companies and a subsidiary of TAVANIR (the holding company responsible for power generation, transmission, and distribution management), which is responsible for planning, supervising generation, developing transmission facilities, and operating the transmission network in Fars and Bushehr provinces. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 28 participants (14 government officials and 14 local stakeholders), participatory observation, and document analysis. Purposive sampling combined with snowball sampling was employed, and Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework was used for data analysis.
Findings
The thematic analysis revealed five interconnected barriers hindering local community participation in power transmission line projects. First, the institutional trust gap emerged as the most significant barrier, rooted in historical grievances, unfulfilled promises, perceived discrimination in compensation distribution, and persistent lack of transparency. This distrust creates a collective memory of institutional betrayal that poisons any new engagement. Second, the inefficient compensation system suffers from inaccurate property valuation, complex bureaucracy, chronic payment delays, and systematic neglect of indirect damages such as soil degradation, loss of future productivity, and construction restrictions within protected corridors. Third, tokenistic participation and untimely information dissemination reflect a top-down approach where communities are excluded from critical decisions like route selection and only informed after finalization, fueling resentment and mistrust. Fourth, the unjust distribution of benefits and costs forces local communities to bear the full social, environmental, and economic burdens while benefits accrue to distant urban centers, transforming resistance into a morally justified stance against perceived exploitation. Fifth, structural incoherence and governance challenges manifest through contradictory regulations, inconsistent assessment practices across agencies, and critical knowledge gaps within the judiciary—such as judges lacking awareness of specialized laws—leading to non-specialized rulings that undermine stakeholder rights. These five themes are mutually reinforcing: distrust intensifies perceptions of injustice, which amplifies resistance; inefficient compensation deepens grievances; tokenistic participation confirms suspicions of insincerity; and structural incoherence erodes confidence in the rule of law. Collectively, they sustain a powerful self-reinforcing cycle of opposition, delay, and institutional erosion that fundamentally threatens the viability of power transmission infrastructure in the region.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that the primary issue in power transmission line projects is the crisis of trust and participation, rooted in an inefficient institutional approach characterized by centralized decision-making, lack of transparency, inattention to local demands, and disregard for indigenous knowledge. This approach has not only caused delays and cost increases but has also undermined public trust and eroded social capital. The findings align with previous research on authoritarian development models, the necessity of early participation, the diminished role of institutional social capital, and the importance of procedural justice and transparency. However, this study offers several distinctive findings: the linear nature of transmission line projects, intersecting with numerous private landowners, qualitatively distinguishes the scale of conflicts from single-location projects; the two-sided approach revealed that both groups suffer from systemic inefficiencies, not merely one party's ill intentions; "institutional social capital decline" was identified as the underlying factor exacerbating other barriers; and a vicious cycle was mapped in which authoritarian approaches lead to local resistance, negative project consequences, and ultimately intensified distrust. Breaking this cycle requires transitioning from a "guided participation" model to a "genuine participation" model based on transparency, procedural justice, early-stage participation, recognition of local knowledge, and fair compensation mechanisms. This transition demands transformation at three levels: attitudinal (shifting from confrontation to cooperation), structural (establishing mediating institutions and transparent processes), and operational (designing participatory mechanisms and empowering communities). Development that comes at the cost of ignoring local communities and destroying social capital proves not only unsustainable but becomes a source of social division, conflict, and distrust. The findings provide a scientific basis for policymakers, project implementers, and future researchers working toward balanced, just, and sustainable development.
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