The Origins and Intellectual Structure of the Deep State Literature

Abstract

Despite the recent interest in the deep state topic, the concept remains elusive. This research utilizes bibliometric metadata from 64 articles published between 2009 and 2024 to identify the intellectual structure and origins of the concept. The findings indicate that discussions on the deep state are fragmented across disciplines such as political science, public administration, law, international relations, and history, intersecting with themes like democratization, civilian‐military relations, and informal networks, yet the concept has not formed into a standalone idea. Interpretations of the concept differ regionally and temporally: in the Middle East, it is associated with civilian‐military dynamics; in Thailand, with interactions among the monarchy, judiciary, and officials; in the United States, historically, the focus has been the military‐industrial complex, which shifted to the administrative state post‐Trump. These variations highlight the need for a comprehensive theoretical framework, for which public administration could provide essential theoretical and methodological support.