judgement – both were wrong. Academic political theory differs from the theory of
the public political world, but it is still politicalin character because, despite these
differences, it has common features.
We hope that the mix of classical and new political ideas and ideologies has
shown the relevance of theory to political practice, and that when you read the
newspaper, watch a TV programme, follow a discussion on the Web or analyse
the arguments of a text, you will be better placed to make up your own mind as
to the wider significance of the positions reported or championed.502 Conclusion