FOLLOWERSHIP IN FOCUS: A COMPREHENSIVE BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW OF RESEARCH FROM 1951 TO 2024

Abstract

This study examines publication trends in followership research over a 70-year period (1951-2024) using bibliometric analysis of data sourced from the Scopus database. A systematic search yielded 3,480 published articles, which were analyzed using tools such as Microsoft Excel, Scopus Analyzer and VOSviewer. The analysis encompassed key bibliometric techniques including annual publication trends, top contributing authors, subject areas, influential countries, collaboration networks and the most popular keywords in the field. The findings indicate that research on followership has shown a consistent upward trend with notable contributions from key scholars such as Haslam, S.A., Reicher, S.D., and Steffens, N.K. These scholars collectively account for 43.47% of publications in this domain and significantly shaping foundational theories to a significant degree. The study also reveals that the most represented subject areas are Social Sciences (23.52%) and Business, Management and Accounting (26.45%) with underscoring the close relationship between organizational success and followership. Researchers from Germany, France, and the Netherlands have formed partnerships that stand out as examples of foreign cooperation. Keyword analysis identifies four topic clusters: The yellow cluster focuses on leadership and followership dynamics; the red cluster investigates psychological aspects such as charisma and social identity; the blue cluster emphasizes the use of followership in healthcare and digital communication contexts; and the green cluster investigates cultural and evolutionary perspectives including political leadership and dominance. These findings underscore the expanding relevance of followership in various disciplines and its growing recognition as a critical field of study.