Usefulness of Emile Durkheim's Social Solidarity Approach on Improving the Ritual Functions of Urban Spaces (case Study: Zeynabieh and Hosseinie Azam Axis till Imamzadeh Seyed Ebrahim of Zanjan City)

Extended Abstract

Introduction

Cohesion refers to the linking or integration of individual duality into a cohesive group or collective. This is an emergent feature that facilitates social order and coordination in groups and is a prerequisite for all non-spontaneous collective activities. Emile Durkheim's approach is based on finding something that keeps people together in a society. Therefore, we believe that ritual functions can be considered as a stimulus for collective formation and maintenance in urban spaces. Hosseiniyeh and Zainabiyeh Azam Zanjan are among the religious places of Shia located in the center of Zanjan city. Ritual ceremonies start from Hosseinieh and Zainabieh Azam mosques and then end from the pedestrian axis to Seyyed Ibrahim (AS) Imamzadeh in Zanjan city. This axis is known as the place of gathering and formation of local communities in religious ceremonies.



Methodology

research method is descriptive-analytical based on field survey (questionnaire).the statistical of the present research is citizens and businessmen their number is unknown. According to Cochran's formula method, 350 people as a sample were questioned. In order to recognize the impact and significant relationship of social solidarity indicators with ritual codes of study, the sample t-tech statistical test and Pearson's correlation were used using SPSS software.



Results and discussion

Out of 350 statistical samples, 45.3% were women and 54.7% were men. 66.4% of people are married and 33.6% are single. The largest age group was 30 to 45 years old with 40.5%. Most of the people with high school education and the predominant occupation of the questioned people was freelance. Shopping, sitting and visiting historical monuments have been among the motivations of people to attend the study axis. Also, 60 percent of people attended national events such as Nowruz and religious events such as the movement of Hosseinieh and Zainabieh Azam Zanjan mourners. This research has tried to adapt Emile Durkheim's theory of social solidarity in promoting the ritual functions of urban spaces. The pedestrian axis of Sabzeh Maidan to Imamzadeh Seyyed Ibrahim (AS) has been chosen as the center of manifestation of the ritual functions of Zainabiyah and Hosseinieh Azam in Zanjan city as a case study. Emile Durkheim's theory of social solidarity was based on the division of labor and the participation of people in collective affairs in a mechanical and organic way. In other words, he believed that keeping people in society requires common stimuli and norms, and therefore, based on the results of the present research, it can be said that ritual functions are considered as common stimuli and values that society members are brought to urban spaces through national and religious ceremonies and rituals. On the other hand, according to their physical and functional content, ritual axes have significant effects in strengthening and promoting social solidarity. If the results of this research are consistent with studies such as Lotfi's studies (2013) regarding the continuity of the historical context with the combination of content and function in the space as an effective measure of ritual axes, Rastbin et al. (2014) regarding the correlation of environmental quality and the continuity of urban life, et al.(2013) the effect of social solidarity on increasing the sense of place, Shakur et al.(2017) about the role of physical structure on the formation of social solidarity in urban spaces, Afshar and Shirkhani (2014) about the influence of social components such as identity, Vitality, security and sociability in urban spaces, Lak and Hakimian (2019) continuity and reproduction of ritual axes depends on strengthening the characteristics of collective memory in urban spaces and Mishra (2020) based on the effect of social solidarity in creating collective consciousness. However, it is not in line with the results of Naderi et al.'s studies (2014) that people do not connect with space, and the findings show that the focus of the study is the promotion of ritual functions in the group, the continuation of collective interactions and the dynamics of space. The findings showed that the more the quality of the visual and physical signs of the space is improved in terms of symmetry and physical unity, it will have a significant impact on the continuation of the formation and promotion of the studied ritual functions and vice versa.



Conclusion

We conclude that Durkheim's theory of social solidarity should be discussed in all topics related to the relationship between the individual and the environment and others. Beyond Durkheim's perspective, we have tried to show the relevance of social solidarity in society and its effects on ritual functions. The idea of this classical sociologist can be reflected in the issues of urban planning to produce collective spaces and interactions of cultural-religious events. The results of the findings showed that among the indicators of social solidarity, the variables of belonging to historical and traditional contexts, promoting identity, recalling collective memories, feeling happy and alive, accessibility, social communication and interactions, and feeling safe, respectively. The average of 4.09, 3.80, 3.73, 3.57, 3.46, 3.39, 3.35 have had the greatest impact on the promotion of ritual functions. The drivers of the ritual functions of the space to increase social solidarity also include highly influential variables such as the lack of strengthening urban furniture, reducing the attractiveness of the entrance and proper flooring, lack of participation in the reconstruction and preservation of identity buildings, lack of cleanliness and cleanliness, lack of installation Direction signs etc. will also have a negative effect on the ritual function.