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Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa

e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2

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MAPPING THE LANDSCAPE OF WORLD ORDER STUDIES: A BIBLIOMETRIC

ANALYSIS

KHUSHBU DAHIYA

khushbu.rs.polsc@mdurohtak.ac.in

Research scholar in the Department of Political Science at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak

(India), specializing in International Relations. She is currently pursuing her doctoral research on

the topic Changing World Order. She has previously served as an Assistant Professor at Dr. B.R.

Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat. Khushbu has presented 14 research papers at

national and international seminars and has contributed two chapters to edited volumes.

PARDEEP KUMAR

pardeep.polsc@mdurohtak.ac.in

Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Maharshi Dayanand University,

Rohtak (India). With 16 years of teaching experience, he has made significant contributions to

the field through his extensive research and scholarly activities. He has published 52 research

papers in reputed national and international journals and has presented 65 papers at various

national and international seminars. He holds the position of State Vice President of the Haryana

Political Science Association and is a life member of the Indian Political Science Association. He

has also authored several notable books, including India-ASEAN: Emerging Trends Since 1990s

published by Atlantic Publishers, Research Methodology in Social Sciences, India’s Foreign Policy,

and India’s Role in the Indo-Pacific. His work reflects his deep expertise and commitment to

advancing knowledge in international relations and political science.

Abstract

The concept of "world order" is pivotal in understanding international relations and global

dynamics. This bibliometric study maps the landscape of world order research, analyzing

publication trends, intellectual structures, and future directions from 1990 to 2023. Using the

Scopus database, 6762 relevant documents were identified and analyzed through keyword,

co-authorship, co-citation, and bibliographic coupling analyses. The study highlights the

increasing volume of publications, with major contributions from the United States, the United

Kingdom, and Canada. Leading journals such as "International Affairs" and "Third World

Quarterly" are key platforms for world order discourse. Influential works by scholars like G.J.

Ikenberry and Amitav Acharya have significantly shaped the field. Several thematic clusters

were identified, focusing on polarity, power dynamics, economic shifts post-2008 financial

crisis, and China's rising influence. Future research should explore the evolving multipolar

world order, the role of emerging powers, and the impact of technological advancements on

geopolitical stability. This analysis not only synthesizes existing literature but also provides a

conceptual framework for future research, addressing gaps and proposing new directions in

the study of world order.

Keywords

Bibliometric analysis, World Order, Co-citation analysis, International Relations, International

Order.

Resumo

O conceito de «ordem mundial» é fundamental para compreender as relações internacionais

e a dinâmica global. Este estudo bibliométrico mapeia o panorama da investigação sobre a

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

ordem mundial, analisando as tendências de publicação, as estruturas intelectuais e as

orientações futuras entre 1990 e 2023. Utilizando a base de dados Scopus, foram identificados

e analisados 6762 documentos relevantes através de análises de palavras-chave, coautoria,

cocitação e acoplamento bibliográfico. O estudo destaca o volume crescente de publicações,

com contribuições importantes dos Estados Unidos, Reino Unido e Canadá. Revistas

importantes, como «International Affairs» e «Third World Quarterly», são plataformas

fundamentais para o discurso sobre a ordem mundial. Trabalhos influentes de académicos

como G.J. Ikenberry e Amitav Acharya moldaram significativamente o campo. Foram

identificados vários grupos temáticos, com foco na polaridade, dinâmica de poder, mudanças

económicas após a crise financeira de 2008 e a crescente influência da China. Pesquisas

futuras devem explorar a evolução da ordem mundial multipolar, o papel das potências

emergentes e o impacto dos avanços tecnológicos na estabilidade geopolítica. Esta análise

não apenas sintetiza a literatura existente, mas também fornece uma estrutura conceitual

para pesquisas futuras, abordando lacunas e propondo novos rumos no estudo da ordem

mundial.

Palavras-chave

Análise bibliométrica, Ordem Mundial, Análise de co-citação, Relações Internacionais, Ordem

Internacional.

How to cite this article

Dahiya, Khushbu & Kumar, Pardeep (2025). Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a

Bibliometric Analysis. Janus.net, e-journal of international relations. VOL. 16, Nº. 2, November

2025-April 2026, pp. 3-21. DOI https://doi.org/10.26619/1647-7251.16.2.1

Article submitted on 29th November 2024 and accepted for publication on 30th

September 2025.

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e-ISSN: 1647-7251

VOL. 16, Nº. 2

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

MAPPING THE LANDSCAPE OF WORLD ORDER STUDIES: A

BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

KHUSHBU DAHIYA

PARDEEP KUMAR

Introduction

The concept of the World Order is fundamental to understanding international relations

and global developments. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson used the term 'new world

order' after World War I to envision a system for maintaining international peace and

security, coinciding with the establishment of the League of Nations. This political order

had already been in place in the Western world for several centuries (Grinin, L. 2016).

A “world order” in its true global sense has never existed that accommodated the needs,

desires, and wishes of all. The modern international order, often regarded as having its

origins in the Peace of Westphalia, was established in Western Europe at a peace

conference. This conference, known as the "Peace of Westphalia," accommodated the

practical realities of it (Kissinger, H. 2015). However, it wasn’t until the post-World War

II era that the true implications of Westphalia began to manifest in the form of a bipolar

world order. The bipolar world order that emerged after World War II was characterized

by the dominance of two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. The

collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 heralded the dawn of a unipolar world order

characterized by American hegemony and the ascendancy of liberal democracy and free-

market capitalism as the prevailing norms of governance. In the twenty-first century, the

world order stands at a crossroads, buffeted by a confluence of geopolitical,

technological, and environmental upheavals that have upended traditional paradigms of

power and governance. This concept has recently become the focal point of academic

discourse, given its pervasive influence on diplomatic relations, trade dynamics, security

paradigms, and human rights discourse. In recent years, the concept of world order has

been used more often to depict changes in today’s international system. Following the

2008 financial crisis and China's growing economic power, experts and scholars

frequently argue that the United States has lost its dominant position. They suggest that

a significant shift away from unipolarity is taking place (Brooks & Wohlforth, 2016). As a

result, there is growing interest among government analysts, policymakers, and the

academic community in comprehending the concept of world order. However, the field of

world order is vast and diverse, encompassing a wide range of disciplines and

perspectives, including studies focusing on polarity and power dynamics among nations.

This diversity poses a significant challenge for researchers attempting to synthesize an

objective review of world-order literature under a single framework. The interdisciplinary

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

nature of the field results in a multitude of theories, methodologies, and interpretations.

As a result, achieving a comprehensive understanding of world order necessitates

navigating through a complex tapestry of ideas and approaches, making the task of

providing a unified analysis challenging. The increasing number of publications makes it

essential to take a meta-perspective of the world-order research field.

Rationale of the study

The contemporary global order is often described as being in a state of crisis, yet there

is little agreement on whether this crisis is intrinsic to the order itself or indicative of a

deeper systemic issue. While the literature on changing power dynamics, global

challenges, the decline of the West, the rise of regional groupings, shifts in the global

power hierarchy, and the increasing importance of maritime security is rapidly expanding,

clarity and consensus on the emergence of a post-Western or post-American world order

remain lacking. Previous research has predominantly addressed historical perspectives

on world order, Euro-centric pluralistic international order, the American concept of

order, the decline of US hegemony, the decline of the West, the emerging Asian century,

and the post-American world order. However, these studies have yielded inconclusive

results, and scholars hold differing views on the polycentric nature of the world order and

whether we are moving towards a new world order or if this is merely rhetorical.

Currently, the rise of various multi and mini-lateral groups in different global regions

suggests signs of multipolarity. Key questions remain unanswered, such as whether

economic relations are supplanting political ones in the international arena, the validity

of the Asian century narrative, the role of non-state actors, and the roles of Western

stable powers and rising powers like China, Japan, Brazil, and India in these changing

dynamics. Moreover, there is a notable gap in bibliometric studies on the topic of world

order. Despite the extensive qualitative and quantitative research available, there has

been little effort to systematically analyze and map the scholarly literature on this subject

using bibliometric methods. This represents a significant gap in the existing research, as

bibliometric studies could provide valuable insights into the evolution, trends, and key

contributors to the discourse on world order. This study aims to bridge this gap by

providing a thorough bibliometric analysis of world order. The following research

questions will be addressed by this study:

RQ1: What publication trend is the world order field currently experiencing? Which

countries, organizations, authors, and articles have had the biggest impact on this field?

RQ2: What is the current state of the field's intellectual structure? In what way might it

be incorporated to create a conceptual framework?

RQ3: What are the future directions for this field of study, and what research trends are

now influencing world order research?

The research offers an intricate examination of thematic clusters, identifying potential

avenues for future research within each cluster. Furthermore, the knowledge domains

have been defined, which has prepared the way for the development of a conceptual

framework, an essential instrument for addressing potential gaps in existing literature.

The article's structure is as follows: The initial section provides an explanation of the

research methodology, outlining the process of data retrieval and screening.

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

Subsequently, the analysis and findings section delineate the results of co-citation and

co-occurrence networks. This is followed by an examination of clusters identified through

bibliographic coupling analysis and the proposal of future research directions. A

subsequent section introduces a conceptual framework derived from cluster themes.

Finally, the discussion segment delves into the theoretical and practical implications as

well as the study's limitations.

Material and Methods

In the current article, bibliometric analysis is employed for three key reasons,

contributing to the growing number of systematic literature reviews using this approach.

Firstly, bibliometric analysis assists in organizing and categorizing literature on any

subject, offering a structured perspective on the advancement of knowledge in a

particular field through scientific mapping. Secondly, this method facilitates retrospective

analysis by identifying trends, research areas, overarching themes, and subtopics within

the field. Lastly, it provides an overview of trends such as prominent authors, papers,

journals, and nations related to the subject being researched, thereby supporting specific

areas and sources of interest in the discipline. Synthesizing various outputs and

knowledge gained through different bibliometric methodologies enables researchers and

practitioners to identify research gaps and establish future research directions.

Methodology for Searching and Retrieving Data”

The retrieval, selection, and analysis of data from the literature were done using a

multi-stage method (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Flow Diagram of Search Strategy

Source: Author (s)

Stage 1

Database Search

Stage 2

Time Filtration

Stage 6

Source Type

Stage 5

Language Filtration

Stage 4 Document

Filtration

Stage 3

Subject Filtration

Keywords: “World Order” OR “Global Order” OR “International Order” OR

“Changing World Order” OR “New World Order” - 11,784 documents

Journal and Book only - 6827 documents

Timespan: 1990-2023 - 11,230 documents

Subject Area: Social Science - 8790 documents

Document type: Journal, Book Chapter and Book -

7822 documents

Language: English - 7182 documents

Stage 7 Stage of

Publication

Publication Stage Final - 6762 documents

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

The first stage involved conducting an extensive search in the Scopus database by

selecting keywords such as World Order, Global Order, International Order, Changing

World Order, and New World Order. The keyword selection was not limited to 'World

Order' alone. The next step was figuring out which database to use to gather articles. As

a dependable database for gathering articles for quantitative analysis, Scopus is highly

recognized throughout the world (Guerrero-Baena et al., 2015;Duran-Sanchez et al.,

2019); Valenzuela-Fernandez et al., 2019). We combed over articles in the World Order

field using the Scopus database.

This database is considered to be the largest multidisciplinary collection of peer-reviewed

literature in the field of social sciences (Norris & Oppenheim, 2007). As of now, Scopus

contains over 94 million documents with more than 2.4 billion cited references. It is

important to note that these numbers are subject to change as the database is regularly

updated. The data was accessed on April 8, 2024, and includes influential articles dating

back to 1979 up to 2024, with a larger concentration of articles from 1990 onwards. The

database includes various types of documents such as research articles, book chapters,

reviews, letters, and notes, totaling more than 11,230. After the initial extraction of

documents based on selected keywords, the next step involved the elimination of

irrelevant documents. A wide range of papers from several disciplines, including food

science, psychology, marketing, and other facets of life, were included in the list. As

such, it needed to be carefully screened. After removing articles by scrutinizing the

headline and keywords and restricting the topic to social sciences, we were left with 8790

documents. After more screening that looked at the language, source type, and

document type, the total was reduced to 6827. Upon choosing the ultimate publication

phase, we ultimately found 6762 papers that pertain to the field of world order.

The collection of studies involved gathering bibliographic data in CSV format from Scopus.

The data obtained from the Scopus database included various metrics such as h-index,

citations per paper and author, total publications and citations. We also tracked multiple

forms of citation and publication information using Scopus IDs. The VOS Viewer, a tool

for clustering and creating network (.net) files, was used to process the CSV file. The tool

helped in visually representing co-occurrence and co-authorship networks and calculating

network centralities. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the study on a global

scale, network analyses such as keyword analysis, co-authorship analysis, co-citation

analysis, and bibliographic coupling analysis were performed. The study period's most

common themes were identified through keyword analysis.

The relationships between contributing authors, institutions, and nations were

investigated by the co-authorship analysis. In addition, this analysis contributes to our

understanding of the collaboration network, which can help us comprehend a particular

research topic even better (Bhukya et al., 2022;Randhawa et al., 2016).

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

Findings and analysis

Trends and development of World Order research

Main Information

After extracting the search query from the Scopus database, I identified the main

features provided in Table 1. The dataset includes a total of 6,762 documents spanning

from 1920 to 2023. On average, each item has 12.28 citations and 329408 references.

The consistent citation of these materials suggests that the study of international order

has been ongoing for quite some time, possibly even before World War II, highlighting

the enduring relevance of this academic field.

“

Table 1. Main Information Regarding Selected Articles”

Source: Author (s)

Annual Publication Trends

Figure 2 highlights the annual growth in scientific publications on world order from 1990

to 2023. From 1990 to 2000, article production remained low, fluctuating between 0 and

200 annually, indicating limited scholarly interest. A gradual increase occurred between

2001 and 2007, with a noticeable rise from 2005, as publications surpassed 200 per year

by 2007. From 2008 to 2015, the number of articles increased steadily, reaching around

400 annually by 2015, reflecting growing academic attention, likely due to evolving global

geopolitical dynamics.

In recent years, from 2016 to 2023, the growth rate accelerated, surpassing 500 articles

per year from 2017 onwards, and approaching 600 by 2023, marking the highest level

of scholarly output on world order to date. This trend reflects the increasing relevance of

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Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

world order studies in response to contemporary global challenges, underscoring the

field’s importance within international relations and related disciplines.

Figure 2. Annual Publications Trend

Source: Author (s)

Most Productive Journals

In order to comprehend the most eminent publications on the topic of World Order, this

study determined the top 10 contributing journals (see Table 2).

“

Table 2. Most Productive Journals

“TOP 10 CONTRIBUTING JOURNALS”

“S.No.”

“Name of the Journal”

Publisher

International Affairs

Oxford

University

Press

3985

42.84

Third World Quarterly

Taylor &

Francis

3022

35.55

International Politics

Palgrave

Macmillan

611

8.72

Globalizations

Taylor &

Francis

489

8.89

Review of International

Studies

Cambridge

University

Press

1986

36.10

European Journal of

International Relations

Sage

1584

29.88

International Relations

Sage

835

16.7

Cambridge Review of

International Affairs

Taylor &

Francis

363

8.44

Millenium: Journal of

International Studies

Sage

1010

25.89

10.

Pacific Review

Taylor &

Francis

413

10.86

Source: Author (s)

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

Table 2 lists the top 10 contributing journals in the field of international affairs, detailing

metrics such as total publications (TP), total citations (TC), average citations per

publication (AC), h-index, and g-index. "International Affairs" leads with 93 publications

and the highest average citations (42.84), reflecting its strong impact. "Third World

Quarterly," published by Taylor & Francis, follows with 85 publications and notable

citation metrics (AC of 35.55). "International Politics," from Palgrave Macmillan, has 70

publications but a lower average citation rate (8.72). "Globalizations" and the "Review of

International Studies" (Cambridge University Press) have 55 publications each, with the

latter having a significantly higher citation impact (AC of 36.10). Other notable journals

include the "European Journal of International Relations" (Sage) with 53 publications and

strong citation metrics, and "Millennium: Journal of International Studies" (Sage), which,

despite fewer publications, maintains a solid citation profile. The "Pacific Review" (Taylor

& Francis) rounds out the list with 38 publications. These journals collectively contribute

significantly to the discourse on international affairs, as evidenced by their citation and

publication metrics.

Country-Perspective Overview

Table 3. Top Publishing Countries on World Order

TOP 10 PUBLISHING COUNTRIES

S.No.

Country

Average Article Citation

USA

6518

13.40

6408

15.60

Canada

1553

11.10

Australia

1378

10.10

Germany

1296

11.40

China

1217

8.40

Netherlands

963

19.70

South Africa

617

14.70

Denmark

586

16.30

10.

Sweden

502

13.60

Source: Author (s)

The table on the "Top 10 Publishing Countries" lists countries by their total number of

citations (TC) and the average number of citations per article. The USA tops the list with

6518 citations and an average of 13.40 citations per article, showcasing its dominant role

in academic publishing. The UK follows closely with 6408 citations and a higher average

citation rate of 15.60, indicating a strong influence in highly cited research. Canada ranks

third with 1553 citations and an average of 11.10, highlighting its significant yet smaller

contribution compared to the USA and UK. Australia and Germany round out the top five,

with citation counts of 1378 and 1296 and average citations per article of 10.10 and

11.40, respectively, demonstrating their active participation in global research. China,

the Netherlands, South Africa, Denmark, and Sweden complete the list, with the

Netherlands standing out for its high average citation rate of 19.70, suggesting its

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

research is particularly impactful. This table illustrates the geographic distribution of

academic influence and highlights the country’s leading in scholarly contributions.

Most Cited Documents (Global)

Table 4. Most Cited Documents (Global)

S.No.

Author(s)

Document Title

Source Title

Ikenberry GJ (2009)

“After Victory: Institution,

Strategic Restraint, & the

Rebuilding of Order after Major

Wars”

Princeton

University Press

927

Mazower M. (2009)

No Enchanted Palace: The End

of Empire and the Ideological

Origins of the UN

Princeton

University Press

713

Adler E. (1992)

Conclusion: Epistemic

Communities, World Order and

the creation of a reflective

research program

International

Organization

677

Balakrishnan

Rajagopal (2003)

International Law from Below:

Development, Social

Movements and Third World

Resistance

Cambridge

University Press

661

Ikenberry GJ (2018)

The End of Liberal International

Order?

Oxford University

Press

561

Andrew Hurrell (2007)

On Global Order: Power, Values,

and the Constitution of

International Society

Oxford University

Press

548

Ikenberry GJ (2011)

Liberal Leviathan: The Origins,

Crisis, and transformation of the

American World Order

Princeton

University Press

490

Mark Purcell (2003)

Citizenship and the Right to the

Gobal City: Reimagining the

Capitalist World Order

International

Journal of Urban

and Regional

Research

449

Amitav Acharya

(2014)

Global International Relations

(IR) and Regional Worlds: A

New Agenda for International

Studies

International

Studies Quarterly

431

10.

Stefan Halper (2004)

America Alone: The Neo-

Conservatives and the Global

Order

Cambridge

University Press

392

Source: Author (s)”

The "Most Cited Documents (Global)" table provides a list of the top ten most cited

documents in the context of world order studies. At the top is Ikenberry, G. John. (2019)

book "After Victory: Institution Strategic Restraint & the Rebuilding of Order after Major

Wars," published by Princeton University Press, with 927 citations. This work explores

how victorious powers use institutions to maintain post-war order with historical cases

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such as the post-Napoleonic era, the aftermath of World War I, and the post-World War

II period to understand how leading states establish enduring international orders.

Following this is Mazower, M. M. (2009) book "No Enchanted Palace: The End of Empire

and the Ideological Origins of the UN," also from Princeton University Press, with 713

citations, discussing the UN's formation in the context of decolonization. It offers a critical

examination of the historical and ideological roots of the United Nations. (Adler & Haas,

1992) article on epistemic communities in "International Organization" is third with 677

citations, contributing to the understanding of knowledge networks in international

relations. It explores the concept of epistemic communities and their role in shaping

international policy and world order. Rajagopal's 2003 book "International Law from

Below," which discusses development, social movements, and third-world resistance, has

661 citations. Rajagopal challenges the traditional, top-down approach to international

law, which often reflects the interests of powerful states and elites, and instead highlights

the role of grassroots movements in shaping legal norms and practices. Ikenberry

appears again with his 2018 article "The End of Liberal International Order?" at 561

citations which critically examines the challenges and uncertainties facing the liberal

international order in the contemporary global landscape. These documents are pivotal

in shaping contemporary understandings of international relations and global

governance.

Top Contributing authors

Table 5. Most Productive Authors

S.No.

Author

Name

PY_start

Ikenberry,

GJ.

3447

0.667

1998

Falk, R.

195

0.267

1995

Acharya, A.

1198

0.303

1992

M Smith

165

0.286

2004

Cox, RW.

693

0.182

1992

Philips

Andrew

194

0.467

2010

Thakur, R.

213

0.235

2008

Buzan, B.

776

0.250

1997

HE K

107

0.444

2016

10.

Held, D.

273

0.182

1992

Source: Author (s)

The "Top Contributing Authors" table identifies the most influential scholars in world order

studies, ranked by total citations (TC), total publications (TP), h-index, g-index, m-index,

and the year they began publishing (PY_start). G.J. Ikenberry leads with 3447 citations

and 27 publications, known for his influential work on international relations and the

liberal world order. His research advocates for multilateralism and the strategic use of

international institutions to promote global cooperation. Richard Falk, with 195 citations

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and 24 publications, has significantly contributed to discussions on global governance

and human rights. Amitav Acharya, with 1198 citations and 18 publications, focuses on

regionalism and non-Western contributions to international studies, particularly in his

book The End of American World Order, which examines the rise of a multipolar world.

M. Smith (165 citations) and Robert Cox (693 citations) have also contributed, with Cox

recognized for his critical theory approach. Andrew Philips and Ramesh Thakur, both with

around 13 publications, explore global security and international institutions. Barry

Buzan, with 776 citations, is notable for his work on security studies and international

society theory. Ke He and David Held, each with 12 publications, have contributed to

political theory and global democracy. These scholars have significantly shaped the field

of global order and international relations through their research and theoretical

contributions.

Co-authorship network of countries in world order

The dynamics and structure of the world order knowledge area will now be visualized.

The co-authorship network serves as an example of how academics from different

universities and nations collaborate on projects related to academia (Donthu et al., 2020)

Figure 3

Source: Author(s)

The graph in Figure 3 displays a network of co-authorship among 57 countries that have

co-authored at least six scientific publications. This network consists of 316 links and 979

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

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total link strength, forming ten clusters of different colors based on the relatedness of

articles from various nations. In Figure 3, each node represents a country, and its co-

authorship links with other countries are indicated by the edges. The size of the node

reflects the amount of co-authorship linkages, with the United States being the largest

node with 50 links and 331 total link strength. Australia and the UK have the thickest

margins, suggesting that researchers based in China primarily collaborate with

organizations in the US.

In a study article, scholars from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany

collaborated with Chinese scholars. The United Kingdom is a member of cluster six (sky

blue) and is the second largest circle. The largest cluster (red), consisting of eight

members, shows collaboration among authors from institutions in democratic countries

with governance based on representative democracy principles. All the countries in the

red cluster actively participate in initiatives to promote international peace and security.

Co-occurrence of keywords in world order

Keyword co-occurrence or co-word analysis can be used to expand on the content of each

topic cluster and suggest future prospects for certain study domains (Donthu et al., 2021)

According to (Goel et al., 2021), there is a greater probability of a similar topic among

keywords that belong to the same cluster. We developed a term thesaurus file based on

recommendations from (Van Eck et al., 2010)

Figure 4

Source: Author (s)

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The research paper displays a graph showing the significance and relationship between

key topics. There were 59 keywords that appeared more than 30 times, resulting in 1029

connections with a total connection strength of 3181. The network formed five clusters,

each represented by a different color. The size of the colored circles corresponds to the

frequency of the keyword's appearance. The thickness of the lines connecting the

keywords indicates the strength of their relationship - the thicker the line, the stronger

the correlation between the two words.

The investigation focused on the use of terms related to international order and China.

The first cluster (red) includes 16 elements such as united nations, sovereignty, power,

legitimacy, international society, international law, international institutions, human

rights, governance, globalization, global order, global governance, diplomacy,

cosmopolitan, and climate change. In this cluster, "international order" is the most

frequently used term, with 52 links and a total link strength of 309. The second largest

node (blue) in the network is China, indicating its significance in the research topic. The

third cluster includes 12 items related to world order, soft power, neoliberalism,

international relations, India, global south, development, COVID-19, China, BRICS, Belt

and Road Initiative, and Africa. The second cluster (green) covers 13 items such as US

foreign policy, regionalism, populism, multipolarity, multilateralism, liberalism, liberal

order, liberal international order, identity, hegemony, globalization, foreign policy, and

crisis. The fourth cluster (yellow) focuses on democracy, European Union, Europe, EU,

NATO, Russia, security, Ukraine, and United States. Lastly, the last cluster (purple)

discusses key issues including cold war, empire, geopolitics, imperialism, Japan,

nationalism, new world order, terrorism, and war.

Bibliographic coupling of documents

Figure 5

Source: Author (s)

Referencing two documents with the same reference is known as bibliographic coupling

(Zainuldin& Lui, 2022). If two articles have a sizable number of similar citations, that

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

indicates a strong coupling strength (Jain et al., 2021). As a result, there is a good chance

that articles referencing the same references will have content overlap. According

to(Koseoglu et al., 2016) and (Zainuldin& Lui, 2022), it provides an active approach to

analyzing the topic's intellectual structure. To obtain the knowledge clusters in our cross-

listing experiment, we therefore used bibliographic coupling. Cluster construction

requires a minimum of 115 times the threshold level because many publications have

been cited together. In the final eight clusters, there were 64 entries.

Cluster 1: Foundational Theories and Early Research

The largest network node is Cluster 1, which is indicated in red (see Figure 5).The red

cluster centers around foundational theories and seminal works, with "Mitchell T. (1998)"

as a prominent document. This cluster likely includes key early research that has

significantly influenced the field. The documents here may discuss core theoretical

frameworks, methodologies, and pioneering studies that set the stage for subsequent

research. The strong internal connections suggest that these works are frequently cited

together, indicating their foundational importance in establishing the basic principles and

concepts within the field.

Cluster 2: Comprehensive Reviews and Key Theories (Late 2000s - Early

2010s)

The second largest network in the dataset is Cluster 2, which is indicated by the green

tint. The green cluster features comprehensive reviews and key theoretical contributions

published in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Notable documents include "Ikenberry G.J.

(2009a, 2009b, 2011b)" and "Acharya A. (2014)". This cluster likely delves into

discussions on global governance, institutionalism, and international political theories.

The documents within this cluster are highly interconnected, suggesting that these works

are pivotal in synthesizing existing knowledge and proposing new theoretical insights that

have shaped contemporary understandings in the field.

Cluster 3: Mid-2000s Theoretical and Empirical Studies

Bubbles in the colour blue are used to symbolize Cluster 3.The blue cluster consists of

documents primarily focused on theoretical frameworks and empirical studies conducted

around the mid-2000s. Key documents in this cluster include works by "Hurrell A. (2006,

2008)", "Foot R. (2006)", and "Chin G.; Thakur R. (2010)". The topics covered likely

involve international relations, governance, and policy studies. The cluster's

interconnectedness reflects a rich body of research that builds on shared theoretical

underpinnings and addresses common empirical questions, contributing to the

development and refinement of theories during this period.

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

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Cluster 4: Emerging Trends and Specialized Research

The yellow cluster includes more recent or specialized documents, with "Mazower M.

(2009)" as a key work. This cluster likely addresses emerging trends or niche areas within

the broader field. The topics may involve newer theoretical approaches, specific case

studies, or contemporary issues that reflect ongoing developments and shifts in research

focus. The connections within this cluster indicate that these documents are exploring

cutting-edge ideas or responding to recent developments in the field.

Cluster 5: Regional and Security Studies (Mid to Late 2000s)

The purple cluster comprises a mix of theoretical and empirical studies from the mid to

late 2000s, with key documents like "Bilgin P. (2008)" and "Rajagopal B. (2003)". The

research in this cluster likely deals with regional studies, security issues, and specific

geopolitical events. The documents are interconnected, suggesting that they share

common themes and contribute to a cohesive body of literature that addresses regional

dynamics and security concerns from various perspectives.

Cluster 6: Cultural, Social, and Interdisciplinary Research

The cyan cluster focuses on cultural, social, and interdisciplinary aspects, with key

documents such as "Callahan W.A. (2008)", "Selby J. (2007)", and "Jones L.; Zeng J.

(2019)". This cluster likely explores cultural analysis, social impact studies, and

interdisciplinary research that bridges multiple fields. The interconnectedness within the

cluster indicates a shared interest in understanding the social and cultural dimensions of

the broader field, contributing to a more holistic and multifaceted perspective.

These cluster headings and explanations provide a structured overview of the different

thematic areas represented in the bibliographic coupling diagram, highlighting the key

focuses and contributions of each group of documents.

Scope for further study

A bibliometric analysis of world order identifies key areas for further research. Non-

Western contributions from the Global South call into question Western-centric

perspectives, underlining the importance of investigating how these voices impact global

discourse. The growing impact of developing countries such as China, India, and the EU

emphasizes the need of analyzing multipolarity using publishing trends to identify

relevant scholars and themes. The roles of regional organizations in international stability

and policy, as well as the intersections of technology, AI, and cybersecurity with

governance, need to be addressed. The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed global

priorities, emphasizing health security and global governance changes. These ideas can

serve as a foundation for rigorous, future-oriented research.

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

Figure 6

Source: Author (s)

Limitations of study

The bibliometric method described has certain drawbacks. The included publications do

not represent the full body of research; rather, they are merely a sample. Because the

study is limited to the top articles rather than the whole sample, a single publication has

a greater influence on the findings of the analysis. An examination of co-citations gives

preference to earlier works. We concentrated on the major ideas and frameworks that

underpin the field of study in order to stay within the parameters of our paper. New

trends, such as digital sensory marketing, may be underrepresented. Despite the fact

that impartiality is a major benefit of bibliometric research, some arbitrary decisions, like

determining the number of components and the threshold for top publications, still affect

the outcome. The emphasis on publications with high FLs tends to exaggerate how unique

each research stream is. Research streams in a subject of interconnected studies

generally overlap. There is a chance of oversimplification when putting a few facts

together in a framework. We appreciate its usefulness in offering a roadmap for situating

research issues within larger contexts and highlighting paths to advance dialogue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the

evolving landscape within world order studies. Examining a dataset encompassing more

than 6,700 documents indexed in the Scopus database from 1990 to 2023, our study

reveals a discernible upward trajectory in scholarly output, indicative of the increasing

prominence and interest in international relations and global governance over the past

three decades. Noteworthy scholars such as G.J. Ikenberry, R. Falk, and A. Acharya have

significantly influenced the discourse through their seminal works, contributing to a

deeper understanding of concepts such as global governance, regionalism, and the

dynamics of geopolitical relationships. The analysis of co-citation and bibliographic

coupling networks unveils robust patterns of collaboration among scholars across various

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Mapping the Landscape of World order Studies: a Bibliometric Analysis

Khushbu Dahiya, Pardeep Kumar

geographical regions, illustrating the truly globalized nature of research in this field.

These collaborative networks not only highlight the interconnectedness of ideas but also

underscore the diverse perspectives that enrich the study of world order dynamics.

Moreover, this study identifies several thematic clusters that have emerged as focal

points of research, including the role of emerging powers in shaping global order, the

effectiveness of international institutions in addressing transnational challenges, and the

implications of technological advancements on geopolitical landscapes. By synthesizing

extensive literature into actionable insights, this analysis lays a solid foundation for

further inquiry into how these themes will continue to shape the future of international

relations and global governance. By illuminating key trends and identifying areas for

future exploration, this study fosters ongoing discussions and advancements in our

understanding of world order in the 21st century.

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