Introduction: Maku County is one of Iran's border cities which, due to its distance from the center, geographical isolation, and underdevelopment, shows a striking difference in welfare and development compared with major population centers.
Purpose: he research problem is the lack of recognition and utilization of effective drivers in the border zone of Maku County, resulting from a security-oriented and one-dimensional approach to border areas, which has led to poverty and regional inequality. Therefore, a futures studies approach was employed to analyze the drivers affecting spatial planning and their influence on the future of the region.
Geographical area: The present study was conducted in Maku County.
Methodology: The research is descriptive-analytical and applied in nature. Theoretical data were collected through documentary methods, and empirical data through a survey based on the Delphi method. The statistical population consisted of 15 urban, rural, and regional experts in economic, social, security, and spatial planning fields, selected through purposive sampling. Data analysis was performed using cross-impact analysis and MicMac software.
Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that low urban economic growth, lack of sustainable income sources, unemployment, employment of non-specialist and non-local individuals in management, the level of investment and absorption of domestic and foreign capital, urban and rural development plans, and the amount of credits allocated to the border region are the drivers with the highest impact on the development of border areas.
Conclusion: A major portion of the variables affecting the future development of the border city of Maku is not necessarily related to its distance from main development axes; rather, the city's spatial planning and development depend heavily on the performance and authority of its managers and on upstream and governmental documents.