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This article will present the impact that political theory has made and the opportunities for future contributions. It will consider the contributions made by leading political theorists to policy debates, the lessons learned from their successes, and how political theorists might further pursue existing and new opportunities to develop impact. The discussion will close with consideration of several potential threats that theorists should become more aware of in order to best avoid them. The growing importance of impact in British higher education policy represents important challenges that may help promote the field of political theory. Political theorists should welcome these developments.A common misperception is that the so-called 'impact agenda' in British higher education is a major problem for colleagues working in the sub-field of political theory.The concern is that political theory is by its nature abstract and often thought to be substantially impractical. Political theorists more readily apply themselves to the consideration of ideas, but not always their relation to practice.The problem is that it has become more common to require evidence of research impact in funding applications and research assessments of departments. Political theorists are disadvantaged by this development and the impact agenda may threaten its future.This view rests on a deep misunderstanding about the relation between ideas and practices. Political theorists should welcome the impact agenda not least because the sub-field should benefit from the impact that political theory may -and often doespossess. I offer a defence of political theory and its impact in this contribution. I will argue that the primary obstacle for political theorists is overcoming scepticism about the kind of impact theorists may offer. The issue is not about whether political theorists create impact, but rather the kinds of impact we should expect from political theorists.

The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that:• a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. Chapter One 10Problems with earlier editions Chapter Two 15Problems with new test launch Chapter Three 20Improvements over earlier edition Chapter Four 23New problems with current test Chapter Five 37Problems with test design Chapter Six 39English language proficiency requirement Conclusion 42Recommendations This report is part of my effort to contribute to the future design and development of the Life in the UK test in later editions. British citizenship has been an honour for me to achieve and I believe I have a duty to provide a constructive, yet critical, examination in this important area of public policy not only for the benefit of future immigrants, but, more importantly, for present citizens as well.I must thank the dozens of people I have interviewed and discussed the test with over the years. I owe special thanks to Lord Bhikhu Parekh for any number of critical reflections that have brought greater clarity to conclusions drawn in this report. EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe Life in the United Kingdom test is an important part of British immigration policy attracting cross-party support. This report is the most comprehensive and rigorous examination of the test available. The report considers how the current edition compares with previous editions and it identifies several problems that should be addressed in a future edition. Whilst the third edition is an improvement over past editions in some areas, it is an opportunity lost more generally. The Life in the UK is unfit for purpose at present until several serious concerns are addressed. Main conclusions ImpracticalThe Life in the UK handbook claims it will help applicants 'integrate into society and play a full role in your local community' including 'a broad general knowledge' of British laws. 1 The Life in the UK test is presented as a test about living in the United Kingdom and the general practical knowledge required enabling successful integration and involvement.However, the test fails to satisfy its own standard. Much of the problem lies with what has been removed from previous test editions. The current edition no longer requires knowledge about the NHS, educational qualifications, the subjects taught in schools, how to report a crime or contact an ambulance and other everyday knowledge it has been claimed all new citizens should know. Instead, applicants must know the age of Big Ben and the height of the London Eye (in feet and metres). My first conclusion is the test does not fulfil its aims of providing satisfactory inform...

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