Iranian Association of Geography and Rural Planning journal of sustainable rural development 25383876 9 2 2025 12 01 Identifying Factors Affecting the Strengthening of Socio-Cultural Participation in Peri-Urban Villages with an Emphasis on Urban Spaces (Case Study: Bojnurd) 236650 10.22034/jsrd.2025.561299.1231 EN Javad Shojaei Ph.D. Student, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Shir.C., Islamic Azad University, Shirvan, Iran Ramezan Ali Naderi Mayvan Assistant Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Kosar University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran. Farzad Ghaderi Bafti Assistant Professor, Department of Construction Management, , Shir.C., Islamic Azad University, Shirvan, Iran. Journal Article 2025 11 21 Urban spaces can serve as powerful bridges for socio-cultural interaction between residents of peri-urban villages and cities. Accordingly, this research aims to identify the factors strengthening socio-cultural participation in peri-urban villages, focusing on urban spaces in Bojnurd. The present study is applied research and, by nature, is mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative). In terms of strategy, it is survey-based, and its execution is descriptive-analytical. Data were collected through both documentary/library research and field methods (interviews and questionnaires). The statistical population consisted of managers and specialists in Bojnurd city. Using purposive sampling, 25 participants were selected until theoretical saturation was reached. Data analysis was performed using the Grounded Theory method and hybrid models (F-ARAS + F-COPRAS). The findings revealed that human-centered and multi-functional infrastructure design, with a score of 72.65, plays the pivotal role as the most effective causal factor. Among the contextual factors, identifying and addressing barriers such as ethnic dispersion and the lack of quality public spaces, with a score of 72.50, were most significant. Among the intervening factors, governance transparency and trust-building, with a score of 72.69, and sustainable financing of participation, with a score of 72.54, held the highest importance for the success of strategies. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that strengthening participation requires a simultaneous combination of improving the physical quality of public spaces, reforming governance structures, and removing institutional barriers.