ABSTRACT
After the cessation of the Iran-Iraq war by the UN Security Council in August 1989 and Rafsanjani's first-term of presidency, there was a genuine attempt by the ruling clergy not only to improve the image of the Islamic Republic in the world, but also to light the candle of hope and create a climate of trust and reconciliation for millions of Iranians who were forced into exile. It is estimated that about four million Iranians have scattered around the Western world since the revolution of 1979. The involuntarily migrated Iranian has played a significant role in the poor image of the Islamic Republic at home and abroad. The largest migrated Iranian community is concentrated in the state of California. In this chapter Adibi provides us with a precise picture of Iranians' perception of the compulsion to return to Iran. In so doing, his study highlights one of the major stumbling blocks that remains to improving the image of the Islamic government in the face of all the recent global changes: the need for highly qualified workers to secure development. The evidence given here indicates that the Islamic Republic has failed even to gain the trust of those who might be encouraged to return to Iran.
