MAPPING THE POLYCRISIS NEXUS: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THEMES, TRENDS AND RESEARCH AGENDA

Eric Komba Foyoh Mani, Mohamed Sao Kawa, Michael Nicol Samai, Ibrahim Massaquoi, Fred Konneh Songa Monson

Abstract


This bibliometric analysis aims to map the evolution of polycrisis literature by analysing its themes, trends, and emerging research agenda. Despite the growing usage of the term polycrisis in both academic and popular discourse to describe contemporary global challenges, the academic discipline is still fragmented. The research follows the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 and uses bibliometric analysis through Biblioshiny in R-Studio to review the publications between 2006 and March 2026. The findings indicate that there is a massive growth in the number of publications, especially after 2020, which demonstrates an increased academic interest in interconnected global crises. Thematic analysis identifies governance, resilience, and polycrisis as central pillars, while emerging areas highlight ongoing conceptual development. This analysis suggests that polycrisis research is changing into a multidisciplinary and policy-relevant domain, despite being conceptually disjointed. Future research ought to be concerned with empirical validation, wider data sources and the formulation of integrated theoretical frameworks. Policy makers need to implement cross-sector approaches and build institutional resiliency. This bibliometric review contributes by providing a systematic and dynamic mapping of the polycrisis research landscape, offering new insights into its intellectual structure and evolution.

Keywords


polycrisis, polycris nexus, global crisis, research agenda, bibliometric analysis

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v12i3.2238

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