Two decades of bibliometric exploration on leadership in disaster management

Leadership plays a vital role in empowering communities to reduce disaster risks, yet there is limited information on this topic. This study presents a bibliometric analysis concentrated on leadership in disaster management, specifically addressing natural hazards. Utilizing the Scopus database, a total of 152 documents published between 1999 and 2023 were identified. The growth in publications annually has shown an upward trend, particularly since 2012. The International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction emerged as the primary source. Yet, the most impactful documents in terms of citations predominantly originate from non-disaster-related journals. There remains a notable imbalance in contributions from authors across countries, with the United States of America and Australia exerting significant influence in both document quantity and citation count. Keyword analysis revealed various disasters as pivotal moments driving scholarly advancements, notably Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The role of leadership is not limited to formal institutions and emergency responses but can extend to various actors and sectors in all stages of disaster management. Ultimately, this bibliometric study sheds light on the progression and emerging focal points within the research landscape of leadership in disaster management. © 2024, World Researchers Associations. All rights reserved.