SOCIAL IDENTITY IN URBAN CONTEXTS: A BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric review of scholarly literature on social identity in urban contexts published between 2000 and 2024. Drawing on data from the Scopus database, the research analyzes 349 peer-reviewed articles using quantitative methods and visual mapping tools (VOSviewer) to identify thematic trends, influential authors, journals, institutional affiliations, and geographic distribution. The results reveal a steady increase in academic interest, particularly in the last decade, with social identity being explored through various interdisciplinary lenses, including migration, race, gender, youth, urban regeneration, and mental health. The analysis of the top-cited publications shows a dominance of qualitative and ethnographic approaches, emphasizing marginalization, resistance, and belonging in diverse urban spaces. Keyword co-occurrence mapping identifies five major thematic clusters: identity and urban vulnerability, migration and citizenship, intersectionality and inclusion, spatial transformation, and emotional geographies. Despite the thematic richness, the field remains dominated by contributions from Western countries, with limited representation from regions undergoing rapid urban transformation, such as Central Asia. The case of Kazakhstan highlights the urgency of incorporating post-Soviet urban identities into global academic discourse. This bibliometric review systematizes existing knowledge and suggests directions for future interdisciplinary and regionally inclusive research on social identity in rapidly urbanizing contexts.