Research in Global Citizenship Education: Relevance Analysis and Thematic Bibliometric Study

Abstract

This study presents a thematized bibliometric analysis of the most relevant scientific output in the field of Global Citizenship Education, distinguishing between historical research (those most cited since records began in Scopus) and recent research (those most cited in the last five years). This analysis has made it possible to highlight the most significant studies in the first quarter of the 21st century. The sample comprised 500 works (2000–2024), classified into five subthemes. The findings reveal a concentration of influential articles published between 2011 and 2016, coinciding with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. A low level of collaboration was identified (1.63 authors per article), along with a high degree of specialization among authors and sources. Spain, Chile, and Italy have emerged as affiliation key countries in recent research production, albeit with low levels of international collaboration. The keyword analysis identified four main category clusters, highlighting the significance of the strategic approach to education and its focus on young populations. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the field of Global Citizenship Education, offering a foundation for future research on its development, challenges, and trends.