Iran is an ancient country, an oil-exporting economy and an Islamic Republic. It experienced two full-scale revolutions in the 20th century, the latter of which had large and important regional and international consequences, including an eight-year war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq. And now in the 21st century, it confronts issues and experiences problems which have important implications for its future development and external relations. In the domestic sphere, the country faces conflicts over national identity and ethnic minorities, democracy and human rights, personal and political freedoms, women's rights, youth culture, full employment, the economy and the use of the oil revenues, and the widening gap between rich and poor. Regarding external affairs, there are more or less severe problems both in regional and in global relations, headed by the ongoing conflict with the west over Iran's nuclear energy programme.

（伊朗）霍马•卡图简

著名社会学家、历史学家、文学评论家、诗人，英国牛津大学圣安东尼学院伊朗传统基金会研究员、埃克塞特大学政治系名誉研究员、《伊朗研究》主编。

（英）侯赛因•沙希迪

贝鲁特美国大学传播学助理教授。曾任记者，服务于英国广播公司达20年之久。2003—2004年，在阿富汗联合国妇女发展基金会担任性别和媒体专家。