An Analysis of Hotspots, Subject Structure, and Emerging Trends in Digital Governance Research

The widespread adoption of digital technology have catalyzed a surge in digital governance (DG). This paper aims to conduct a systematic analysis of 4,782 documents retrieved from the WOS database. Employing bibliometric methods, we unveil the landscape of hotspots, evolutionary trajectories, and emerging trends in DG research. Our findings indicate that the focal points of DG encompass corporate governance, digital finance governance, digital government governance, smart city governance, and Internet and digital platform governance. These topics exhibit a structural synergy, and interconnectedness, with data serving as the key. While there exist disparities in research emphasis across the evolution of distinct DG topics, the overarching trend suggests a shift in the field from localized to globalized governance. Moreover, the research perspective is transitioning from application-specific inquiries to the establishment of comprehensive governance systems. This transformation extends from singular, fragmented governance modes to innovative, synergistic models. International Internet governance, global digital governance, digital governance analysis framework, smart transformation of urban governance, and multi-dimensional collaborative governance represent pivotal directions for future research. By examining research status and intrinsic connection of each topic in DG, this endeavor aids researchers to grasp its development situation, rectify research gaps, and furnish invaluable references to advance theoretical inquiry and practical applications within the sphere of DG.