Document Type : Original Research
Authors
1
PhD in National Security Studies and Secretary of the Internal Security Research Group in SNDU
2
PhD in Public Administration, Chair of the Internal Security Research Group, Supreme National Defense University
3
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
10.22034/sls.2026.68699.1580
Abstract
Given the demographic shifts and emerging challenges such as declining fertility rates, population aging, and transformations in family structure, population policymaking has become a strategic priority in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This study aims to analyze the conceptual structure and co-authorship network of scholarly works related to population policies and programs between 1979 and 2025. Employing a qualitative approach and thematic analysis methodology, the research utilizes MaxQDA software to code and examine documentary and scientific data, extracting frequent keywords and mapping patterns of scholarly collaboration. The findings reveal that terms such as “population,” “childbearing,” “fertility rate,” “family support policies,” “replacement level,” and “population policymaking” are among the most recurrent. The co-authorship network is predominantly centered around disciplines such as demography, sociology, statistics, and public law. Despite the presence of some interdisciplinary links, the concentration within specific academic clusters and limited engagement with executive, cultural, and economic domains are evident. The study concludes that enhancing the quality of population policy research in Iran requires expanding interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging diverse scientific capacities, and strengthening the integration between analytical, legal, executive, and cultural spheres.
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