This study aims to explain what factors, beyond rational calculations and individual interests, lead to the emergence of spontaneous collective action among youth by examining the central role of narrative within the framework of narrative governance. In the context of Iranian society—where the Islamic Revolution possesses a civilizational character and is grounded in the conscious and voluntary mobilization of social actors—understanding narrative mechanisms that stimulate collective action becomes particularly significant. The main problem of the study is the existing gap in the indigenous literature regarding the presentation of a systematic and prescriptive model of the constituent components of effective narratives for the social mobilization of youth in Iran. Accordingly, the primary objective of the research was to identify and explain these components and to propose an efficient conceptual model.

Adopting an interpretive paradigm and a qualitative approach, this study employed a case study strategy (Qorb-e Baqiatollah Headquarters). Data were collected through 23 in-depth semi-structured interviews with elites and experts in the fields of narrative and social activism and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings resulted in the identification and formulation of a comprehensive nine-component model of effective narratives, including identity construction and collective meaning-making, emotional arousal, clarity and simplicity, authenticity and credibility, repetition and continuity, artistry in storytelling, alignment with values and the creation of moral obligation, fostering a sense of agency, and the creation of a sustainable vision. The results indicate that an effective narrative constitutes a dynamic ecosystem operating through a four-stage process, from trust formation to the sustainability of action, and provides significant theoretical and practical implications for policymakers and cultural actors in strengthening narrative governance and advancing the civilizational project of the Islamic Revolution.