Political socialization: A science mapping study

Political socialization is a dynamic process in which individuals shape their political identities and attitudes, influenced by various actors such as family, educational institutions, media, and social environments. This study examines the academic literature on political socialization through bibliometric analysis, assessing the development of the field, the most cited works, collaborations among researchers, and trending topics. Analyzing 1,175 articles published between 1976 and 2024 in the Web of Science (WoS) database, this research identifies changes and trends in scientific output over time. The findings indicate a significant increase in studies on political socialization since 2002, particularly emphasizing the growing impact of social media and digital platforms on political awareness. While political socialization is essential for fostering democratic participation, it is also vulnerable to populist manipulations. This study explores how political socialization shapes individuals' political engagement, how it intersects with various disciplines, and the global distribution of scientific production in the field, aiming to guide future research. The results highlight the need for further investigation into the influence of social media on young people's political attitudes and how populist narratives shape political socialization.