Factors Determining the Rural Population’s Attitudes towards the Islamic Rural Councils

 The importance of people’s participation in the process of a sustainable development, and their critical presence in determining their own desting which is stressed in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran has lead to the establishment of Islamic rural and urban councils. In coordination with government and with its support, the Islamic rural councils like local managers can utilize local facilities for increasing rural growth and development. Thus, the present study aimed at determining the factors that influence rural attitudes toward the Islamic rural councils. Hence, a researcher-made questionnaire was administered to the rural population. From 1655 villages of eight central cities in Khorasan (the studied region) 82 villages were randomly selected, and 629 individuals participated in the study who were the heed of families. The results indicated that no significant difference was found between the council’s level of activity and villagers’ attitude towards them. Moreover, no significant differences were observed between the other three variables (council member’s work experience, public facilities in the village, economic status of the council members) and the villagers’ attitude to wards the Islamic rural councils.