Kingdon's Multiple Streams Approach in the Global South: A Bibliometric Systematic Review

ABSTRACT This study presents a bibliometric systematic literature review of the application of Kingdon's multiple streams approach (MSA) in policy research within the Global South. Using the Scopus database, we analyzed 98 articles published between January 2014 and May 2024, focusing on publication trends, co‐citation patterns, and thematic synthesis. The review identifies key policy domains, including health (34%), environment (19%), and governance (17%), and shows how global–local dynamics and policy entrepreneurs shape policy outcomes. Notable cases illustrate how policy entrepreneurs capitalize on windows of opportunity and how global institutions and multilevel governance structures frequently enable or constrain policy innovation. The findings identify critical gaps in the original MSA framework, such as its limited capacity to account for external actors, power dynamics, and centralized governance structures prevalent in many Global South contexts. By integrating bibliometric analysis with qualitative thematic synthesis, this study proposes theoretical refinements, including adding external influence streams and cultural‐religious filters, to enhance the applicability of the framework in diverse settings. These contributions provide a nuanced understanding of policymaking processes in resource‐constrained and complex environments, advancing both theoretical and practical approaches for addressing policy challenges in the Global South contexts.