Abstract

The phenomenon of segregation is a global issue that is particularly noticeable in South Africa due to the implementation of apartheid policies compared to other regions of the world. The aim of this research is to analyze and study spatial segregation in Boroujerd city. This research is fundamental-applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of its research method. Data was collected using both documentary and field methods. To identify the most important factors in the formation of spatial segregation, a questionnaire was designed and 384 questionnaires were distributed proportionately across five social areas of the city. The questionnaire data was analyzed using multinomial logistic regression statistical tests. To determine the quantitative degree of segregation among high, middle, and low socio-economic groups in Boroujerd city, the Geo segregation Analyzer software was used. Additionally, to examine the spatial distribution of various socio-economic groups in Boroujerd city, hot and cold spot analysis in Geographic Information System (GIS) software was used. The findings showed that in choosing residential neighborhoods in marginalized areas, the presence of clan and close relatives has the greatest influence. In the cluster of villages annexed to the city, the factors of lack of crowding and presence of clan and relatives have the most significant impact in choosing residential neighborhoods. In affluent neighborhoods, the lack of crowding and similar cultural status in terms of residents' education levels play a larger role in choosing residential areas. In the two clusters of pre-planned settlements and core city formation areas, the factors of lack of crowding, similar cultural status in terms of education levels, and lack of crime have the most significant impact in choosing residential neighborhoods. Moreover, given that most of the indices measuring spatial segregation fall within the range of 0.3 to 0.6, the socio-economic bases are on the verge of separation from each other. The spatial distribution of various socio-economic bases in Boroujerd city shows that the high base mostly resides in the northern half of the historical core of the city, the low base mostly resides in the southern and eastern parts of the city, and the middle base mostly resides in the historical core of the city and parts of the northern historical core. The research results indicate that Boroujerd city houses an ethnic city within itself, where nomadic migrants have formed an ethnic ghetto in the southern part of the city, and migrants from Chal Goudarzi rural district have formed another ghetto in the eastern part of the city. In this city, the upper class is not completely segregated from the middle class, although the upper class is largely segregated from the lower class of the city### The Results Showed That the Concentration of High Socio-Economic Base in Boroujerd City Includes Neighborhoods Such as Saadi, Khoram, Rajaee, Janbazan, Farhangian, Fatemi, Fadak, Takhti, Imam Khomeini, Ayatollah Kashani, and Parts of Jafari and Saadi, Yakhchal, Hafez, and Parts of Andisheh and Ziba Settlements Most of these neighborhoods are inhabited by the middle class, and in some cases such as Basij, Hafez, Safa, and Yakhchal, they are also inhabited by the lower socio-economic base, which indicates a low level of segregation between the middle and upper classes in Boroujerd city, but a relatively strong segregation from the upper class. Moreover, the concentration of the lower socio-economic base in Boroujerd city is found in three areas of the city: central neighborhoods such as Behzisti, Hafez, Saadi, Jafari, Basij, Saadi, the southern half of Yakhchal neighborhood, and the southern half of Safa neighborhood and parts of Bazaar neighborhood; in the southern part of the city including neighborhoods such as Laleh, Pasdaran, Ali Abad, Baharestan, Chahar Chenar, and Goosheh Gapleh; and in the eastern part of the city including neighborhoods such as Islam Abad, Madar, Ebrahim Abad, Roodaki, and Imam Hossein, where in fact hot spots have formed in these neighborhoods.