CYBERSECURITY CHALLENGES IN EMERGING DEMOCRACIES:THE CASE OF NORTH MACEDONIA IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROATLANTIC INTEGRATION

Abstract

In recent years, cybersecurity has become one of the central issues in international
relations, not only as a technical challenge but also as a matter of national security, diplomacy, and
democratic stability. Globally, the main challenges include protecting critical infrastructure,
preventing state sponsored or other types of cyber attacks, and ensuring resilience against hybrid
threats. For small and resource-limited states, these risks are amplified by limited technical
capacity, lack of consistent legislation and dependence on external technologies and expertise.
This paper argues that cybersecurity for North Macedonia cannot be understood in purely
technical terms. It is closely tied to democratic governance, regional stability, and the country’s
commitment to become full-fledged EU member country. Addressing these challenges requires a
comprehensive approach: raising cyber awareness on national level, investments in cyber security,
alignment with EU/NATO cybersecurity legal framework, cooperation with NATO and EU
structures and participation in regional initiatives in the Western Balkans. North Macedonia has
no alternative but to place cybersecurity at the top of its national agenda — both as a matter of
safeguarding its sovereignty and critical infrastructure and as a prerequisite for positioning itself
as an active and effective participant in the global digital order.