Mapping the Global Landscape of Political Culture Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of Scopus-Indexed Literature

Abstract

This study analyzes global trends in the study of political culture from 2004 to 2025 through a bibliometric approach to Scopus indexed publications. Political culture, which includes people's values, beliefs, and attitudes toward the political system, is an area of research that continues to evolve along with global political dynamics. However, comprehensive mapping of research trends is still limited. The purpose of the research is to identify publication trends, international collaborations, dominant topics, as well as key actors in the study of political culture. The method used was bibliometric analysis with the VOSviewer and R-Studio Biblioshiny tools to visualize data from 132 selected documents. The results show a fragmented academic community without the dominance of a single author, signaling opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration. Five main thematic clusters were identified: democracy and democratization, political participation and civic culture, public opinion and decision-making, political communication and social media, and determinants and gender. These findings reveal a paradigm shift in political culture research, which is increasingly influenced by digital transformation and globalization. This research makes an academic and practical contribution by presenting a strategic map for researchers, policymakers, and funding institutions to develop a collaborative and inclusive research agenda