Bibliometric insights into corporate governance and ESG controversies: trends, theories and future directions

Purpose This study aims to present a bibliometric review of the relationship between corporate governance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) controversies in the literature. It maps publication trends, theoretical frameworks and key research clusters and identifies key contributors to this field. This study offers valuable insights into the relationship between governance practices and ESG risks, providing directions for future research to enhance corporate sustainability and manage ESG risks effectively. Design/methodology/approach This bibliometric analysis is based on 44 articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, published between 2020 and May 31, 2025. VOSviewer was used to visualize…