Since the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, the Islamic Republic has maintained both its credibility and the loyalty of the people of Iran. It has survived a long and devastating war with Iraq, isolation, and the death of Khomeini.

Iran explores the country's social transformation, stressing the importance of political culture and ideology. The contributors see the building of a legitimate Islamic political culture as the key to the regime's success. They address specific aspects of Iran's political culture within a general theoretical framework laid out in the introduction. Topics discussed range from the relationship of the individual to society to "Westoxication," from Shi'ism to the Islamization of film culture.