“In recent years, the water crisis in Iran has gone beyond an environmental concern and has evolved into a multidimontion issue. Eastern Mazandaran, despite having relatively abundant surface water resources, faces local conflicts over access to and distribution of water between upstream and downstream villages. These conflicts, beyond the mere scarcity of resources, reflect perceived injustice, the breakdown of trust, and transformations in social bonds.This study aims to understand and interpret people’s lived experiences of social conflict over water in this region, using an interpretative phenomenological approach and seeks to analyze the effects of water conflict on perceptions of justice, security, and local identity. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 people (15 residents of the villages involved in the water dispute and five technical experts), and analyzed using a three-level thematic analysis. Thematic network analysis was employed, and through a six-step analytical process, a thematic network was constructed.Within this network, fifteen basic themes were condensed into three organizing themes-“Injustice in the flow of water and distrust in relationships,” “Environmental anxiety,” and “Social rupture and collapse of local solidarity”-and one overarching global theme, “Social conflict over water.”These themes indicate that conflict over water serves not only as a source of material disputes but also as a catalyst for profound transformations in the sense of belonging, coexistence ethics, and social trust. Accordingly, the findings highlight the necessity of rethinking water resource management policies, emphasizing perceived justice, inter-village dialogue, and the integration of Sociological and cultural dimensions in adaptation plans for water scarcity.
 

In the process of urban space creation, there exists a continuous exchange of ideas concerning the current state of that space and the desired conditions as articulated by its inhabitants. Improvements in the challenging realities of urban environments are often manifested through physical changes, one of which is urban regeneration. Given the proliferation of urban regeneration projects in recent decades, it is imperative to consider the social dimensions inherent in these initiatives. In this context, social capital, recognized as a significant social asset within neighborhoods, has assumed particular importance in the discourse surrounding regeneration. This research examines the role of social capital in the regeneration of urban neighborhoods, with a specific focus on the Islamabad Karaj neighborhood. The methodological approach employed in this investigation is descriptive-analytical. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the influence of social capital on the regeneration processes within the Islamabad Karaj neighborhood as perceived by its residents. Data collection for the theoretical framework was conducted using documentary analysis, while the empirical component involved a survey utilizing a questionnaire. The statistical population comprises individuals aged 15 years and older residing in a neighborhood of over 25,000 inhabitants, from which a sample of 410 respondents was selected through simple random sampling, employing Cochran's formula. For data analysis, Spearman's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS software. The findings indicate a strong correlation between social capital and urban regeneration within the Karaj neighborhood of Islamabad. The implications of this research highlight the necessity to focus on the components of social capital and to implement policies aimed at its maintenance and enhancement to facilitate successful urban regeneration in the Islamabad Karaj neighborhood.