Unequal geographies and socio-demographic challenges in resource nexus research: a systematic review

The Resource Nexus has gained prominence as a conceptual framework for understanding and managing interdependencies among natural resources amid escalating global environmental and societal pressures. However, despite its growing adoption, existing scholarship has predominantly emphasised methodological and conceptual innovation, often at the expense of critical geographic and socio-demographic dimensions that shape resource governance and mediate nexus interactions. This systematic review addresses this gap by synthesising empirical insights from 84 peer-reviewed studies identified through a structured search and screening process, and focusing on interrelations and trade-offs among land, food, water, and energy systems. We critically examine the extent to which geographic and socio-demographic variables have been integrated into nexus research since the framework’s popularisation at the 2011 Bonn Nexus Conference. Our findings reveal notable thematic and geographic imbalances, with concentrated attention on population growth and economic development in East and South Asia, while issues such as migration, population decline, and resource-related conflicts, as well as underrepresented regions including Central Asia, West Asia, and Oceania, remain significant blind spots. We argue that these gaps constrain the nexus framework’s potential to inform inclusive and context-sensitive governance, and we advocate for a shift in nexus research towards more empirically grounded and inclusive approaches that explicitly address geographic diversity and socio-demographic complexity. In doing so, we contend that such an approach can enhance the analytical utility of the Resource Nexus framework and provide guidance for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to develop integrated, context-aware strategies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.