The study also outlines how bilateral disputes between Bulgaria and North Macedonia create openings that enable or amplify Russian influence operations. These disputes have become a strategic entry point for disinformation, enabling Russian actors to exploit existing tensions and shape public narratives.
Their messages and the way they engage with the public and their opponents shape the political culture and public discourse, while also creating models of behavior and values.
This policy paper analyses the regulatory obligations and institutional responsibilities that emerge within the EU legislative framework to strengthen information integrity and increase a society’s resilience to foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).
The study shows that Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference is not an isolated phenomenon, but part of broader hybrid strategies that combine disinformation, geopolitical narratives and cyber operations to shape public opinion and political decisions.
The publication “The Gordian Knot of Harmful Narratives in Politics and Media” is the final output of the comprehensive research “Determining Political Harmful Narratives (HARM-TIVE)”
Harmful narratives in political communication create a toxic public sphere, deepen divisions, and incite intolerance. It is a democratic duty for politicians to work on depolarizing public discourse and to address complex issues important to society through dialogue rather than through populism, character attacks, and undermining trust in institutions.
This publication is the result of the research Determining Political Harmful Narratives (HARMTIVE) conducted by the Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) in collaboration with researchers and experts in the area of communications and media, journalists, and media professionals.
The project aims to establish a structured process for communication, coordination and institutional response to foreign information manipulation and interference in North Macedonia.
The project aims to better understand, recognise and address foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) through work with institutions, journalists and vulnerable groups.