Tripartite Political Model: Exploring political practice, policy, and research

An Article by Femi Oladele, 2025 EPLF Fellow

All professions have a tripartite model with both front-facing and back-office dynamics. I call it the 3 x 2 (3 by 2) professional matrix. Apologies if you are offended by the reference to politics as a profession, because amongst other things there has been an advocacy for a shift to part-time political officeholding as well as the concept of a ‘first address’ asides a political ‘second address’. While this is understandable given the endogenous challenges that have persistently rebuked common sense in our polity, it is also important to demystify the political landscape to improve greater understanding, participation, and commitment that can birth productive and positive change. I must mention that there is a knowledge gap about the structure of professions because many people are more familiar with practice (or in this instance, political practice), while policy and research are mostly unknown or considered insignificant. For example, I laugh when people randomly assume that a Political Scientist should ordinarily make a good politician; unfortunately, history has proved otherwise in many instances. This article explores the dynamics of the tripartite model in politics, opening vistas on significantly taken-for-granted dynamics that pave ways for proper and effective engagement in politics especially among young people.

Take a moment: consider a profession as a game – think Football. So, practice operationalizes the game: think players on the pitch. Policy deals with the rules of the game – consider referees, while research reviews the game like sport analysts. Each with its own rules of engagement and performance index. A forward player is judged by how many goals scored, while a defender is judged by how many goals or attempts stopped. A referee is judged by fair play rules enforced. A sport analyst is judged by unbiased assessment of a game. 

In and for politics, this is no different. Practice showcases politicians including aspiring and elected officials, party(wo)men, and others directly involved in politicking. Policymakers find expression in regulations and compliance such as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others who enforce, review, revise, and keep tabs on compliance to electoral laws, guidelines and principles. Researchers are civil society organisations, academics and other interested parties who look at both policy and practice, understand their interplay to generate meanings which can be sociological, economic or otherwise. Given their obsession with data, researchers are a warehouse of knowledge. Young people who desire to practice politics can benefit from the wealth of experience and knowledge generated by researchers to better understand the landscape and apply their insights appropriately.

As young people, understanding where you desire to play in the model is significant for appreciating your contributions to the ‘game’. This is important to enforce continuous innovation in politics. Recall for example that before now Video Assistant Referee (VAR) did not exist in Football. Your participation in the game of politics can improve the game, rules, and quality of commentaries. Would you rather remain a disinterested complainer and murmurer?

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Femi Oladele is a Public Policy Enthusiast and can be reached via email at  olafemidele@gmail.com