Toward better electoral cycles: Proposals for the quality improvement of electoral legislation
In less than a year and a half, the citizens of North Macedonia elected their representatives three times: the President, members of Parliament, and local authorities. What represented a democratic privilege for the electorate posed new challenges and legal battles for institutions and independent participants in the elections. For international observers, these elections again highlighted [...] Local Inspectors Under the Lens: Strengthening Legality and Responsibility in Local Inspections
Local inspection services are a key mechanism for enforcing regulations in areas that directly affect citizens' daily lives, yet their functioning remains insufficiently researched, coordinated, and regulated. This creates a gap between the legal framework and its practical implementation, enabling discretionary decision-making and risks of corruption The project “Local Inspectors Under the Lens: Strengthening Legality [...] Distinguishing between the political and the administrative: Proposals for a functional and professional senior civil service
The selection of senior managers in the state administration is currently carried out through different procedures and criteria set out in various sectoral laws, resulting in a fragmented and inconsistent appointment model. The adoption of a new Law on Senior Civil Service has been identified as a key measure under the Public Administration Reform Strategy [...] New Global Uncertainties, Old European Commitments: Public Perception on EU Accession in 2025
Тhe Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” – Skopje and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in 2014 initiated the establishment of a longitudinal database about the public support for the EU accession process and North Macedonia’s EU membership which would be effectuated through annual public opinion surveys based on a coherent methodology and measurement of identical questions. […]
Analysis of public opinion on North Macedonia’s accession to the European Union (2014-2025)
This public opinion analysis on the EU accession process of North Macedonia, conducted in 2025, is a continuation of the research done in the period 2014-2024. It applies the same theoretical and analytical model of the determinants of support for North Macedonia’s EU membership, and at the same time, it compares its empirical findings with […]
Political Thought No.71
In the latest issue of Political Thought, a collection of texts addresses several current socio-political topics related to elections, digital platforms, youth, education, and the future of work. The authors reflect on ongoing processes and trends, seeking answers to the following questions: What is the race of political parties for presence on TikTok? Is there [...] Institute for Democracy in 2025
26 years of advocating for accountable policies in times of uncertainty Years in which democratic processes advance without pressure are rare. More often, progress takes place in conditions of uncertainty, limited resources, and shifting priorities, and it is precisely in such periods that the meaning of continuity and consistency in the name of the […]
Focus group report: Public Perception of the Work of the Parliament, Trust in Public Institutions and Political Parties, and Quality of Life in North Macedonia
This report presents the findings from three focus groups conducted in Skopje, Shtip, and Gostivar in June 2025, with the aim of exploring the context behind the percentages generated by the field survey on “Citizens’ Perceptions of the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia,” conducted in February/March 2025. The focus groups sought to offer [...] Foreign Influence Challenges: Corrosive Capital and Disinformation in the Western Balkans and Associated Trio
The GEO-POWER-EU project has published a report examining how foreign influence operates across the Western Balkans and the Associated Trio. The study shows that corrosive capital and disinformation take root not only through external pressure but through partnerships with domestic political patrons who invite, shape, and legitimise such influence. Drawing on 29 investment case studies and multi-method research, the report analyses how foreign [...]