Geography and Urban Research

Abstract This study compares Rafsanjan and Gaziantep (pistachio producers) to propose a 'product-oriented sister city' model based on urban diplomacy and agritourism for sustainable development of medium-sized cities. The research employs a qualitative meta-synthesis method, with systematic analysis of 40 reputable scientific sources and conceptual coding. Despite its agricultural and cultural advantages, Rafsanjan faces challenges such as sanctions and financial constraints, environmental crises (water scarcity and land subsidence), and institutional weaknesses in branding. In contrast, Gaziantep has strengthened its global identity through membership in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, international festivals, and food tourism infrastructure. Based on the similarities between the two cities in pistachio-based economies, food culture, and agricultural traditions, the "Pistachio Sister Cities" initiative is proposed. The conceptual model derived suggests that the success of urban diplomacy depends on the synergy of three components: "institutional-diplomatic," "branding and tourism infrastructure," and "experience-based economy," which are reinforced through the mediating variable of "transnational sisterhood networking." The findings indicate that Gaziantep scores highly across all three components of the model, particularly in the institutional-diplomatic and branding dimensions. In contrast, Rafsanjan, despite its production advantages, faces deficiencies in all three components, with the lack of structured strategies, institutional weaknesses, and environmental crises identified as the most significant obstacles to urban development. Based on the innovative "Pistachio Sister Cities" model proposed as a cooperation framework, its realization requires the design of alternative pathways (informal scientific-cultural collaborations, virtual public diplomacy, private sector participation, and multi-level support from national and provincial institutions) and gradual management of obstacles (with emphasis on environmental carrying capacity and sustainable water resources). The proposed model, while offering operational applicability for Rafsanjan, can be generalized as a methodology for other medium-sized cities with distinctive agricultural products, and can provide a roadmap for transformation from a "mere producer" to an "international symbol."

Abstract One of the methods and approaches that have been proposed for urban development planning is strategic urban development planning, in which the process of paying attention to social and institutional capacities on the one hand and localization as a process that, in accordance with urgent needs and current conditions, draws issues, topics, and solutions from the knowledge of different cultures and civilizations; on the other hand, is important. In this regard, the main goal of this article is the localization process of strategic urban development planning with an emphasis on institutional and social capacity indicators in the city of Karaj. This research is applied in terms of purpose and based on a descriptive/explanatory-analytical method. The statistical population is experts and city managers in the city of Karaj. The analyses were conducted based on descriptive and inferential statistics using path analysis with SPSS software. Based on the results of the research, in institutional capacity, the effectiveness of the indicators of laws and regulations in explaining the city development strategy, readability and transparency of laws and regulations in explaining the city development strategy, and in social capacity, finding and creating common points in terms of society and culture, developing participation in solving problems, and trust in the implementers of development and renovation projects have the greatest impact on the process. Also, based on the path analysis, laws and regulations in explaining the city development strategy have the greatest impact with a coefficient of 0.76, followed by finding and creating common points in terms of society and culture, readability and transparency of laws in explaining the city development strategy, and developing participation in solving problems are in second, third, and fourth place with coefficients of 0.63, 0.53, and 0.37, respectively.