Metamorphosis publishes research on the effects of disinformation and foreign influence on democratic processes

The Metamorphosis Foundation has published the research “The Effect of Disinformation and Foreign Influences on Democratic Processes in North Macedonia in 2025,” which analyzes how disinformation and propaganda narratives affect public debate, trust in institutions, and citizen participation in democratic processes.

The research combines an analysis of disinformation narratives and a survey of a nationally representative sample, providing insight into the degree of exposure to and impact of manipulative information on citizens. This approach also allows for comparison with the results of previous surveys from 2022 and 2023 and the identification of trends in the development of the disinformation environment in the country.

The findings indicate that the spread of disinformation represents a significant societal and institutional challenge that affects the media space, trust in institutions and the quality of democratic processes. In addition to geopolitical narratives related to the war in Ukraine, the media space also includes anti-EU and anti-NATO messages, manipulative content related to elections, health topics and new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

The research aims to provide an empirical basis for public debate and policymaking, as well as to contribute to strengthening societal resilience to disinformation through an approach that includes all relevant stakeholders–institutions, media, civil society organizations, and the academic community.

The research was conducted as part of Metamorphosis’ broader efforts to monitor and expose harmful foreign influences and strengthen media literacy and democratic resilience in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans region.

Filip Stojanovski, Partnership and Resource Development Director at the Metamorphosis Foundation, discussed some of the research results in an interview with TV Sitel on March 13, 2026.

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