INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE RESEARCH AND CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SCHOLARLY EVOLUTION (1980–2025)

Abstract

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) has emerged as an important dimension of cultural sustainability, community resilience, and sustainable development amid globalization, migration, climate change, and digital transformation. Despite increasing scholarly attention, existing research on ICH remains fragmented across disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, education, sustainability science, and heritage governance. This study aimed to examine the intellectual evolution, thematic development, and global research dynamics of ICH scholarship from 1980 to 2025 within the context of sustainability-oriented discourse. Employing a systematic review and bibliometric research design guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework, the study synthesized and analyzed 452 Scopus-indexed publications retrieved as of March 2026 using Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny and VOSviewer for science mapping and thematic analysis. Findings revealed a significant intellectual transition from identity-centered discourse toward broader sustainability-oriented heritage governance frameworks emphasizing cultural sustainability, community resilience, indigenous knowledge systems, climate adaptation, digital heritage, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study further identified expanding international collaboration networks and increasing interdisciplinary engagement in heritage scholarship. Emerging themes highlighted the growing integration of participatory governance, decolonial heritage perspectives, and culturally grounded sustainability approaches within global policy and development discourse. The findings contribute to interdisciplinary scholarship by clarifying the evolving role of intangible cultural heritage within sustainable development and providing insights for policymakers, educators, cultural institutions, and heritage practitioners involved in safeguarding cultural continuity and community resilience.