Iran and The Arab Spring: Asymmetry in a Two-way Mirror?

This study investigates the rhetoric and practice of two actors (Public and Regime) involved in the foreign affairs of Iran. The literature section provides a discussion of the foreign policy of the current Regime, and the factors influencing its direction in the context of the Arab Spring. In the findings section, the response of the public to both the Arab Spring and the Iran's foreign policy is analyzed. It is concluded that the foreign policy of Iran is dominated by a realpolitik-based, opportunistic approach with a strongly theopolitical bent in favor of the status-quo, which is contrasted by the public support for movements based on freedom and participation. Finally, it is suggested that, in order to prevent the widening of the gap between the regime and the public, the regime should reinforce the conditions for basic rights and freedoms.