Trends, Issues, and Future Directions of Decentralization in Unitary State Research: Bibliometric Analyses from 1975-2024

This study presents the overall bibliometric analysis for the period 1975-2024 of research into decentralization in unitary states. This research was conductede to cover the voids existing in this field, such as the systematic examination of the evolution in themes, key contributors, and mapping of collaborative networks. These documents were analyzed using the Bibliometrix package in R Studio. The main findings of the study show a significant increase in publications over the years, culminating in 2016. From the thematic breakdown, a shift from foundational concepts to practical implications, such as public management and accountability. The study further identifies emerging trends, including how decentralization is being influenced by global challenges like COVID-19, making the need for resilient local governance systems, and bridging the role of decentralized structures in managing public health crises. This paper contributes to an overview of the research landscape, guiding future research directions and informing policy. It underscores the dynamism and interdisciplinarity of research in decentralization up a notch higher to be relevant to improving governance in unitary states.