A scientometric analysis of science outputs and the political economy undergirding science in southern Africa

Abstract

This paper examines scientific knowledge production in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region over the period 2000 – 2022. Research productivity in the region is uneven, with South Africa contributing the majority of outputs, while other member states are marginal contributors. Health related fields account for the largest share of publications, followed by agriculture/environmental sciences, with engineering, energy and applied sciences underrepresented. Research collaboration is largely external, oriented toward Europe and the United States, while intra-African collaboration still limited. Structural challenges, including persistent underinvestment in research and development; weak research infrastructure, and human resource constraints, limit research efforts and research sovereignty. The study combines bibliometric analysis with an examination of the political economy of science, providing an integrated perspective rarely applied in regional analyses. By highlighting the critical role of sustainable domestic funding for research, talent development and stronger regional collaboration—the findings underscore the pressing need for policies to build more resilient and sovereign African research systems aligned with national and regional development goals.