Intangible Cultural Heritage Research and Cultural Sustainability: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis of Scholarly Evolution (1980–2025)

Abstract

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) has become increasingly important within global discussions on cultural sustainability, sustainable development, and heritage governance amid globalization, digital transformation, and climate-related socio-cultural change. International frameworks such as the UNESCO 2003 Convention and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize ICH as a vital mechanism for preserving cultural identity, strengthening community resilience, and safeguarding indigenous knowledge systems. Despite expanding scholarly attention, research on ICH remains fragmented across disciplines, limiting comprehensive understanding of its intellectual evolution toward sustainability-oriented scholarship. Addressing this gap, this study employed a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of 452 Scopus-indexed publications from 1980 to 2025 following the PRISMA 2020 framework. Using Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, the study analyzed publication trends, collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic evolution. Findings reveal a significant shift from identity-centered discourse toward sustainability-oriented themes including heritage governance, cultural sustainability, digital heritage, indigenous knowledge systems, and community resilience. The study contributes to sustainable development scholarship by informing cultural policy, SDG-oriented heritage safeguarding, and interdisciplinary sustainability governance.