Sponsor
Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning
First Advisor
Megan Horst
Term of Graduation
Spring 2024
Date of Publication
6-10-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Urban Studies
Department
Urban Studies and Planning
Language
English
Subjects
oil, petroleum, political ecology, social reproduction, urban ecology, urban history
DOI
10.15760/etd.3782
Physical Description
1 online resource (xiii, 260 pages)
Abstract
This dissertation examines the transformative impact of the oil industry on social reproduction within the urban and ecological landscapes of Khuzestan Province, Iran, and its center, the city of Ahwaz. Specifically, the study sought to understand the effects of the oil industry on social reproduction in three key areas: gender relations, race/ethnic relations, and daily life amidst environmental pollution caused by the oil industry.
This is explored through three sub-questions: 1) How are hierarchical socio-spatial relationships perpetuated through practices of everyday life? 2) How are gender relationships redefined and reproduced in the oil city? 3) How are ethnic relationships redefined and reproduced in the oil city? The research methodology combines extensive archival work, examining the historical development of the oil industry in Khuzestan, with contemporary ethnographic methods, including interviews with 35 residents of Ahwaz, to capture their experiences of social reproduction under the influence of environmental pollution from the oil industry.
By integrating theories of petro-colonialism and domestic colonialism with Urban Political Ecology, the dissertation frames oil cities as spaces where foreign and domestic colonial agendas converge, leading to significant socio-ecological disparities. My approach to UPE extends beyond spatial and environmental transformations to include the bodily and material impacts of such changes. This theoretical framework helps to understand the pervasive impact of the oil industry on social reproduction, particularly through the lens of environmental degradation and its disproportionate effects on marginalized communities.
The dissertation contributes to the academic discourse by highlighting the under-researched area of oil production's impact on urban spaces and social relations. It calls for a more embodied, at the same time multiscalar approach to urban political ecology, which considers the lived experiences of those residing in oil-rich regions. Ultimately, the research aims to provide insights that could inform policies and strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of the oil industry and promote more sustainable and equitable urban development in regions like Khuzestan. This study not only provides insights for urban planners and policymakers but also offers valuable historical and contemporary analyses for understanding the socio-ecological transformations driven by the oil industry in Khuzestan.
Rights
© 2024 Maryam Amiri
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Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42281
Recommended Citation
Amiri, Maryam, "Embodied Urban Political Ecology of Oil: Social Reproduction in Oil Geographies Case Study: Ahwaz, Khuzestan, Iran" (2024). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 6650.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.3782