Contemporary Trends in Political Communication and Public Relations: A Global Bibliometric Analysis of Research Patterns in Political Discourse (2020-2024)

Abstract

Through bibliometric analysis, this study provides an overview of the evolution of public communication in political contexts between 2020 and 2024 with respect to research trends, collaboration patterns and emerging themes within the fields of political communication and public relations research. Using methods of systematic analysis visiting Scopus database, the study analyzes 2,367 documents that have been published over 860 sources, illustrating the theoretical development and methodological approaches in this field during an era characterized by pivotal technological and social transitions. The study uncovers significant patterns of hierarchy in terms of production and collaboration, with a clear geographical skew towards North American and European institutions but growing activity from the wider Asia-Pacific regions. The United States is at the top of research output, followed by the UK and Germany. The annual growth rate of 1.64% in publication trends reflects a sustained scholarly interest on the subject between 2020 and November, 2023. Thematic analysis reveals a handful of research clusters, identifying digital media and social networks as the home base for most publications, followed by two other themes: electoral politics and crisis communication. This includes the immediate implications of COVID-19, which prompted new research directions around crisis communication and public trust, as well as future-oriented trajectories indicated by emerging topics including alternative media and political fandom.