Chapter 28 - Identity, Rights, and Duties

Summary

This chapter provides an illustrative example of an alternative research approach, positioning theory for studying identity in relation to constructions of rights and duties. Positioning theory represents a highly promising new approach to studying the dynamic social processes that unfold over time. The chapter articulates a conceptual framework, presenting the idea of a universal cycle of rights and duties, in the context of a broader discussion on positioning, identity, rights, and duties. It establishes the historical and cultural context of the illustrative example that serves as the focal point of the chapter: positioning by the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI), the United States (US), and the European Union (EU). The chapter discusses examples of positioning by the different parties. It considers a range of Iranian political factions operating inside and outside Iran, differing in the degree to which they are anti-American and anti-Western in their ideologies.