ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book shows that 'narrating Iran' is a profound theoretical and methodological challenge, made harder by the fact that international comparisons are almost impossible to make. Iran's electoral politics has shown how election cycles act as triggers for infighting and intensive efforts to rebalance power between factions. The book suggests that mass participation in the political process is indicative of a high degree of engagement with the political system, though often in anticipation of bringing about change through the ballot box. Analysis of political interactions and policy outcomes suggests a strong correlation between policy fluctuations in the international arena and political power at home. Foreign relations act as an externality for the regime's domestic political competition.
