The Field of Defence Economics Research 2005–2025: Bibliometric Mapping in VOSviewer

Abstract

The study presents a systematic bibliometric mapping of the field of defence economics research over the period 2005–2025 as a methodological foundation for formulating doctoral-level research problems and substantiating conceptual responses to identified research gaps. Based on an initial array of 12,062 Scopus records retrieved through 68 search queries, after deduplication and thematic filtering, a core dataset of 962 publications (Article, Review, Book Chapter, Conference Paper, English language, 2005–2025) was formed. Using VOSviewer 1.6.20, three sequential analytical stages were applied: a keyword co-occurrence network (310 terms, 8 thematic clusters, 6,990 links), a chronological overlay and density heat map, and a co-citation network of scientific journals (29 journals, 4 clusters, 250 links, total link strength of 2,216) with a minimum threshold of 20 citations. The analysis enabled the identification of three interrelated systemic gaps in the field. The chronological gap is manifested in the temporal distance between the established theoretical core (endogenous growth, market structures, creative destruction — average years 2014–2018) and the emerging applied problematics (war, deterrence, defence logistics — 2022–2025). The conceptual gap reflects the absence of intensive research connections between the theoretical core clusters and the emerging applied Ukraine-layer. The institutional gap is expressed in the absence of specialised defence-economics journals (Defence and Peace Economics, Defence Studies, Journal of Conflict Resolution) within the field's co-citation network. The results provide an empirical basis for substantiating an adaptive-endogenous methodology as a conceptual response to the identified gaps and for selecting target journals for the dissemination of further research. The study fills a gap in the Ukrainian scientific discourse regarding the systematic bibliometric mapping of the field of defence economics over a twenty-year time horizon.