Searching for coherence in a fragmented field: Temporal and keywords network analysis in political science

Abstract In this paper, we answer the multiple calls for systematic analysis of paradigms and subdisciplines in political science—the search coherence within a fragmented field. We collected large dataset over seven hundred thousand writings science from Web Science since 1946. found at least two waves development, behaviorism to new institutionalism. Political appeared be more than literature suggests—instead ten subdisciplines, 66 islands. However, despite fragmentation, there is also tendency integration contemporary science, as revealed by co-existence several coherent interconnected topics “canon science,” core-periphery structure topic networks. This was first large-scale investigation entire field, possibly due newly developed methods bibliometric network analysis: temporal island clustering. Methodological contribution work evaluation islands method clustering against hierarchical cluster its ability remove misleading information, allowing meaningful weighted