<![CDATA[This study presents a bibliometric analysis of research pertaining to the social dimension of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), emphasizing diversity, inclusiveness, and human capital from 2000 to 2025. The study analyzes publication trends, prominent authors, institutions, and countries, alongside co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence networks, utilizing data sourced from important scholarly databases and examined with VOSviewer and associated technologies. The findings indicate that the domain is structured around a central cluster of ESG, sustainability, sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, and ESG performance, from which specialized themes such as social disclosure, corporate governance, sustainable finance, and human capital development arise. National and institutional maps illustrate extensive collaborative networks centered around European and Asian hubs. The study theoretically illustrates that the social pillar is a multi-faceted construct that connects diversity, workplace practices, and human capital to organizational performance, stability, and legitimacy, despite the current research being fragmented and inconsistent across many countries and sectors. The paper finishes by discussing implications for managers, investors, and governments, and presents a research agenda focused on the social aspect of ESG.]]>
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