Research theme mapping and future directions on corruption and religion: a bibliometric analysis

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Ethics
• Religious Studies

Background:

• Corruption poses significant threats to social and economic stability.
• Religion offers ethical frameworks and moral guidance that can combat corruption.
• The intersection of religion and corruption remains underexplored in academic literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of the relationship between corruption and religion.
• To identify emerging trends and key topics in this research area.
• To map the evolution of research focus and suggest future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis utilizing data from the Scopus database.
• Identification of publication trends over time.
• Mapping of key topics and research themes.

Main Results:

• A notable increase in publications on religion and corruption in recent years.
• A thematic shift from economic, social, and political factors to include religious variables.
• Emerging topics include religiosity, religious affiliation, liberation theology, education, and anti-corruption efforts.

Conclusions:

• The complexity of current discussions highlights diverse perceptions of religion's role in corruption.
• Future research requires a holistic and contextual framework to understand religion's impact on corruption.
• This study encourages a broader perspective on religion's influence in anti-corruption practices.