Best In Depth Script Review Podcasts (2025)

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Contentious Politics and Democratic Resilience 38:15

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1d ago38:15

38:15

In this episode, we sit down with Professor Mohammad Ali Kadivar to explore the urgent and timely question of popular protests amid global democratic backsliding. Drawing from his acclaimed monograph, Popular Politics and thePath to Durable Democracy, Kadivar poses the following questions: What role does dissent play in sustaining democracies? Do p…

1
Playwright AI Vibe Testing: True Self-healing Tests with Vasusen Patil 41:19

3d ago41:19

41:19

Flaky Playwright tests got you down? Discover Vibe Testing, a new AI-driven approach that lets Playwright tests understand design intent, adapt to UI changes, and self-heal intelligently. In this episode, Joe Colantonio talks with Vasusen Patil, Co-Founder and CEO of Donobu, about how their platform extends Playwright with AI-powered “Vibe Testing.…

1
The Myth of Democratic Resilience – In Conversation with Jennifer Cyr and Nic Cheeseman 43:30

9d ago43:30

43:30

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Playwright Testing: How to Make UI and API Tests 10x Faster with Naeem Malik 27:47

4d ago27:47

27:47

Did you know that Playwright offers an elegant, unified framework that seamlessly integrates both UI and API testing within a single language and test runner? Don't miss the early bird Automation Guild discount: https://testguild.me/ag26early This episode explores how Playwright empowers teams to simplify test maintenance, eliminate silos between d…

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The Play Podcast - 103 - Titus Andronicus, by William Shakespeare 57:51

13d ago57:51

57:51

Episode 103: Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare Host: Douglas Schatz Guest: Max Webster Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with our expert guest. We’ll discuss the play’s origins, its themes, characters, structure and impact. For us the pl…

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The Co-optation of Antonio Gramsci’s Ideas by the Contemporary (Far-)Right 31:43

16d ago31:43

31:43

This episode, part of the series When the Far Right and the FarLeft Converge, features Francesco Trupia and Marina Simakova discussing the ideological co-optation of Antonio Gramsci’s ideas by the contemporary (far-)right. They examine when and how right-wing actors adopted his political language, and how political conjunctures in and beyond Europe…

1
Cut Weeks of Manual Test Design into Minutes Using GenAI 17:26

16d ago17:26

17:26

Are your tests falling behind your requirements? Check out our new AI Requirement course here: https://testguild.me/aireqcourse In this special highlight episode, Joe Colantonio shares lessons from a new course created with Keysight: Turning Requirements into Reliable Tests with AI-Augmented Design. You’ll hear from AI strategist Noelle Russell, Ke…

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Tranformations of the Latin American Right: From Pink Tide to Polarization – Part2 23:49

20d ago23:49

23:49

In the second part of our special two-part episode ofthe Review of Democracy podcast, we continue our conversation with André Borges, Ryan Lloyd, and Gabriel Vommaro, editors of The Recasting of the Latin American Right, published by Cambridge University Press. Building on our first discussion of parties, movements, and leaders, this episode turns …

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The Play Podcast - 102 - Every Brilliant Thing, by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe 46:14

20d ago46:14

46:14

Episode 102: Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe Host: Douglas Schatz Guests: Duncan Macmillan Jonny Donahoe Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with our expert guest. We’ll discuss the play’s origins, its themes, charact…

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Transformations of the Latin American Right: From Pink Tide to Polarization - Part 1 27:05

22d ago27:05

27:05

In this special two-part episode of the Review of Democracypodcast, we speak with André Borges, Ryan Lloyd, and Gabriel Vommaro, editors of the book The Recasting of the Latin American Right, recently published by Cambridge University Press. The conversation explores how Latin America’s right has been reshaped since the early 2000s — from the rise …

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Scaling Mobile Testing Pipelines with Anton Malinski 38:49

23d ago38:49

38:49

Scaling CI/CD for mobile apps is hard. Faster test runs often lead to more tests, more infrastructure, and more complexity. So how do you keep your pipelines healthy and reliable while still shipping at speed? In this episode, we sit down with Anton Malinski of Marathon Labs to explore the real-world lessons he’s learned building and optimizing mob…

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The Politics of Migration Narratives – In Conversation with Andrew Geddes 37:56

28d ago37:56

37:56

Migration is one of the most salient issues in European politics today. While its importance for voting decisions is widely acknowledged, many of its key characteristics remain the subject of vivid debate. Opinions about migration often diverge sharply: Does migration pose a threat to European societies, or is it essential for economic survival? Ar…

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Colonial Roots and Continuities in Europe’s Migration System – In Conversation with Janine Silga 36:15

30d ago36:15

36:15

When the first treaties that laid the groundwork for today’s European Union and the European Convention on Human Rights were signed after the Second World War, many of today’s member states were still significant colonialpowers—empires. It was only in the years that followed that these European empires eroded, and many countries in the Global South…

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Capitalism’s Democracy: Competition and Resilience in Twenty-First Century 33:14

1M ago33:14

33:14

In our latest episode of the special series produced in partnership with the Journal of Democracy, we discuss the recent article co-authored by Steven Levitsky, Semuhi Sinanoglu, and Lucan Way, entitled “Can Capitalism SaveDemocracy?” (Journal of Democracy, Vol. 36, No. 3, July 2025). We engage this provocative piece against the backdrop of recent …

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The Play Podcast - 101 - The 101 Greatest Plays 1:17:05

1M ago1:17:05

1:17:05

Episode 101: The 101 Greatest Plays Host: Douglas Schatz Guests: Michael Billington Mark Lawson Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with our expert guest. We’ll discuss the play’s origins, its themes, characters, structure and impact. For us the…

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Scripts of Revolutions: A Conversation with Dan Edelstein 36:03

1M ago36:03

36:03

In this episode of Democracy and Culture, we speak with Dan Edelstein, William H. Bonsall Professor of French at StanfordUniversity, about his new book The Revolution to Come: A History of an Idea from Stasis to Lenin (Princeton University Press, 2025). His academic investigations range across literary studies, historiography, political thought and…

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How Vibium Could Become the Selenium for AI Testing with Jason Huggins 31:34

1M ago31:34

31:34

In this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, Joe Colantonio sits down with Jason Huggins—the original creator of early versions Selenium, Appium, and Sauce Labs—to discuss his latest project: Vibium. Not sure what tool to use? Try my free Test Tool Matcher now: https://testguild.me/toolmatch Jason describes Vibium as “Selenium for AI,” desi…

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A New Constitutional Settlement for Poland? – In Conversation with Maciej Kisilowski (Part 2) 33:24

1M ago33:24

33:24

On 1 June 2025, the second round of Poland’s presidential election resulted in a surprise win for Karol Nawrocki, backed by the right-wing populist Law and Justice party, over Warsaw’s liberal mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, the candidate of the ruling Civic Coalition. The knife-edge campaign highlighted deep social divisions in the Polish society. In Par…

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The Illiberal Trap: Stanley Bill and Ben Stanley on Trilemmas and Warnings from Poland 58:02

1M ago58:02

58:02

In this new episode of our special series produced in partnership with the Journal of Democracy, Stanley Bill and Ben Stanley draw on their new article “Democracy After Illiberalism: A Warning from Poland” (July 2025, Vol. 26, No. 3) to discuss the challenges, dilemmas, and paradoxes ofliberalism after illiberalism in Poland. They reflect on the co…

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Playwright, Cursor & AI in QA with Ben Fellows 46:00

1M ago46:00

46:00

In this episode of the TestGuild podcast, Joe Colantonio sits down with Ben Fellows, founder of LoopQA and QA thought leader, to explore how AI is reshaping test automation. Ben shares lessons from his popular AI test automation workshops, diving deep into topics like: How AI turns hours of page object coding into minutes Why “augmented coding” bea…

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From Competitive Authoritarian to Hegemonic: Berk Esen on the Decline of Turkish Democracy and the Prospects for Its Revival (Part 2) 39:49

2M ago39:49

39:49

In Part 2 of our latest episode in the special seriesproduced in partnership with the Journal of Democracy, Berk Esen turns to the other side of the equation: how Turkey’s opposition is pushing back against an increasingly hegemonic regime. This episode builds on Part1, where we explored the regime’s authoritarian escalation through thecourts, medi…

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War, Oligarchs, and the Future of Ukraine’s Political Economy – Inna Melnykovska on Civic Transformation, Reconstruction and EU Influence in Wartime Ukraine 48:42

2M ago48:42

48:42

How is war transforming Ukraine’s economy—and itsoligarchs? In this Review of Democracy podcast, political economist Inna Melnykovska (Central European University) discusses how the full-scale Russian invasion has led to surprising shifts in business-state relations, including a turn toward civic responsibility among Ukraine’s biggest companies. In…

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Balancing Speed and Quality in the AI Era with Jim Trentadue 35:40

2M ago35:40

35:40

In this episode of the TestGuild Podcast, Joe Colantonio chats with veteran QA leader Jim Trentadue about how artificial intelligence is reshaping software testing—and what testers can do to stay ahead. With nearly three decades in the industry, Jim shares hard-earned lessons from his own career, insights into balancing speed and quality in agile t…

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From Competitive Authoritarian to Hegemonic: Berk Esen on the Decline of Turkish Democracy and the Prospects for Its Revival (Part 1) 37:14

2M ago37:14

37:14

In Part 1 of our latest edition in the special series in partnership with the Journal of Democracy, Berk Esen unpacks how Turkey’s competitive authoritarian regime is veering toward full autocracy. Drawing on his co-authored piece with Şebnem Gümüşçü, “How to Fight Turkey’s Authoritarian Turn” (July 2025, Vol. 36, No. 3), Esen charts Erdoğan’s inte…

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The Play Podcast - 100 - A Moon for the Misbegotten, by Eugene O'Neill 1:15:57

2M ago1:15:57

1:15:57

Episode 100: A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O'Neill Host: Douglas Schatz Guest: Beth Wynstra Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with our expert guest. We’ll discuss the play’s origins, its themes, characters, structure and impact. For us …

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AI Won’t Replace Great Test Leaders with Mike Lyles 44:44

2M ago44:44

44:44

In the age of AI, the role of software testers is evolving fast. Don't miss the QA Summit: https://testguild.me/qasummit As more repetitive tasks are automated or handled by AI, the testers who will stand out are those who lead, influence, and bring deep subject matter expertise to their teams. In this exclusive replay from a private Automation Gui…

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Holding Frontex Accountable – In Conversation with Joyce De Coninck 29:01

2M ago29:01

29:01

In current public discourse, human rights violationsat the EU’s borders are inextricably linked to one specific actor: the European Border and Coast Guard Agency – or, in short, Frontex. Since its establishment in 2004, human rights activists have become increasingly aware of variousrights violations committed by the agency, particularly in the Med…

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The Aftermath of Poland’s Presidential Election – In Conversation with Maciej Kisilowski (Part 1) 42:13

2M ago42:13

42:13

On 1 June 2025, the second round of Poland’s presidential election resulted in a surprise win for Karol Nawrocki, backed by the right-wing populist Law and Justice party, over Warsaw’s liberal mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, the candidate of the ruling Civic Coalition. Trzaskowski had previously lost in 2020 to the incumbent President Andrzej Duda, albeit…

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The Paradox of Dynastic Democracy: Richard Javad Heydarian on Current Developments in the Philippines, Sharpening Global Competition, and the Prospects of a Liberal-Progressive Breakthrough 36:47

2M ago36:47

36:47

In this new episode of our monthly special created in partnership with the Journal of Democracy, Richard Javad Heydarian discusses the Philippines’ dynastic democracy and political prospects in a truly global framework. Drawing on his recent article, “The Philippines’ Dynastic Democracy” (July 2025, Vol. 26, No. 3), Heydarian dissects the main issu…

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How to Build a Culture of Comprehensive Quality with Matt Gilbert 22:38

3M ago22:38

22:38

On this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, host Joe Colantonio welcomes Matt Gilbert, founder of Clear Insight, for a conversation packed with practical wisdom for testers looking to break into, or advance in, modern software quality practices. Drawing on his experience working across industries such as insurance, healthcare, and SaaS, Ma…

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The Play Podcast - 099 - Till the Stars Come Down, by Beth Steel 1:07:57

3M ago1:07:57

1:07:57

Episode 099: Till the Stars Come Down by Beth Steel Host: Douglas Schatz Guest: Beth Steel Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with our expert guest. We’ll discuss the play’s origins, its themes, characters, structure and impact. For us the play…

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No Scripts, No Frameworks, No Maintenance? with Don Jackson 34:27

3M ago34:27

34:27

In this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, I'm joined by Don Jackson, Technical Evangelist at Perforce, to explore a bold new frontier in automation testing: true agentic AI. We unpack the groundbreaking tech behind Perfecto's latest release and what it means to test smarter, faster, and with zero hassle. Don shares how this new form of a…

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Making QE Matter to the C-Suite with Parasar Saha 28:54

3M ago28:54

28:54

In this episode, Parasar Saha founder and CEO of Digy4 shares insights from his journeys across multiple countries, meeting with global enterprises to uncover real-world challenges teams face in achieving quality at scale. The discussion dives into the importance of data visibility, the pitfalls of focusing on the sheer quantity of tests over their…

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The Play Podcast - 098 - Stereophonic, by David Adjmi 1:09:20

3M ago1:09:20

1:09:20

Episode 098: Stereophonic by David Adjmi Host: Douglas Schatz Guest: David Adjmi Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with our expert guest. We’ll discuss the play’s origins, its themes, characters, structure and impact. For us the play is the th…

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The Rise of Legislative Authoritarianism – In Conversation with Paolo Sosa-Villagarcia and Moisés Arce 28:20

3M ago28:20

28:20

In the latest episode of our special series produced in collaboration with the Journal of Democracy, Paolo Sosa-Villagarcia and Moisés Arce discuss the rise of legislativeauthoritarianism, compare it with more traditional forms of authoritarian rule, and explore its implications both in theory and in practice. Drawing on their co-authored article w…

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Exploring Playwright and MCP with Debbie O'Brien 32:18

3M ago32:18

32:18

In this episode, host Joe Colantonio sits down with Debbie O'Brien, Principal Technical Program Manager at Microsoft and a leading advocate for Playwright end-to-end testing. Debbie shares her fascinating journey from web design in the late '90s to building and nurturing the Playwright community at Microsoft. Together, they tackle the latest and gr…

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Mapping Crisis Across Borders: Balázs Trencsényi on the Interwar Period, Intellectual History, and the Future of Democracy 1:03:09

3M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

In this episode of the Review of Democracy podcast, we speak with historian Balázs Trencsényi about his new book Intellectuals and the Crisis of Politics in the Interwar Period and Beyond: A Transnational History (OUP, 2025). Trencsényi offers a sweeping re-narration of modern European intellectual history through the lens of “crisis” — not only as…

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Curating Europe’s Memory: A Conversation with Simina Bădică about the House of European History 43:31

4M ago43:31

43:31

In this episode of Open Space(s) series, the Reviewof Democracy brings to your attention one of Europe’s most ambitious cultural institutions: the House of European History. Founded by the European Parliament in 2017 in Brussels, this unique institution explores Europe’s past from a transnational perspective and provides a platform for debating sha…

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Solving Challenges in Software Testing with Kristijan Plaushku 29:41

4M ago29:41

29:41

On this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, host Joe Colantonio welcomes Kristijan Plaushku, founder of QA Robots, for a fascinating deep dive into the evolving world of testing and automation. Grab the free Testing Toolkit now: https://testguild.me/toolkit Broadcasting from Italy, Kristijan shares his journey from starting in quality assu…

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Reimagining Political Theory: A Global and Comparative Conversation 47:15

4M ago47:15

47:15

In this episode of the Review of Democracy podcast, Alexandra Medzibrodszky talks to Leigh Jenco and Paulina Ochoa Espejo—two of the three co-authors of the new textbook Political Theory: A Global and Comparative Introduction, published by SAGE. Co-authored with Murad Idris, this groundbreaking volume reimagines how political theory is taught and u…

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The Play Podcast - 097 - Giant, by Mark Rosenblatt 1:01:03

4M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

Episode 097: Giant by Mark Rosenblatt Host: Douglas Schatz Guest: Mark Rosenblatt Welcome to The Play Podcast where we explore the greatest new and classic plays. Each episode we choose a single play to talk about in depth with our expert guest. We’ll discuss the play’s origins, its themes, characters, structure and impact. For us the play is the t…

1
Startup Democracy: Meritocracy and Gender in Bangalore, A Conversation with Hemangini Gupta 47:39

4M ago47:39

47:39

Startups have become one of the defining features of the 21st-century economy, celebrated as engines of innovation, meritocracy, and social mobility. Entrepreneurs—from Silicon Valley to Bangalore—are increasingly influential in shaping not just markets but also political discourse. Governments around the world areinvesting heavily in building star…

1
WireMock with Tom Akehurst 39:16

4M ago39:16

39:16

In this episode, we sit down with Tom Akehurst, the creator of WireMock, the popular open-source API mocking tool now powering simulation at scale in modern development pipelines. We unpack the real-world benefits of API mocking, when to simulate vs. integrate, and how WireMock Cloud is helping teams manage drift, complexity, and change. If you're …

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Men in Black - Part 2 49:18

4M ago49:18

49:18

Answering questions from Script Club members attending online, Barry talks about everything from the evolution of the script to working with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones and why he doesn’t want his actors to act. Host Luke Foster is also joined by screenwriter and novelist Danny King, screenwriter, script consultant and editor David Wigram, and w…

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Men in Black - Part 1 46:03

4M ago46:03

46:03

Host Luke Foster is joined by screenwriter and novelist Danny King, screenwriter, script consultant and editor David Wigram, and writer, editor and creative consultant Corey Brotherson. We talked about everything from the way the characters and the story world are introduced to the script’s effective blend of action and comedy. You can read the scr…

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Shaping the Culture of a City: A Conversation with Bohdan Shumylovych 43:04

4M ago43:04

43:04

In this episode of Open Space(s), the Review of Democracy focuses on Lviv, where the Center for Urban Historyoffers a unique institutional model at the intersection between memory, space, and digital innovation. Founded in 2004 and located at 6 Bohomoltsia Street, Lviv, the Center for Urban History has become a vital node in public history and digi…

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Can Courts Save Democracy? In Conversation with Samuel Moyn 25:39

4M ago25:39

25:39

Since the beginning of the year, the Trump administration has been trampling on different sectors of the U.S. state. Numerous commentators, both from the U.S. and abroad, have argued that the issue of a potential “constitutional crisis”—one that could pave the way for authoritarianism—essentially hinges on whether the government complies with court…

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Mastering Medical Device Testing with Priyank Soni 32:44

4M ago32:44

32:44

In today’s show, we’re diving deep into the highly specialized world of software testing for medical devices. Our guest, Priyank Soni, brings over 20 years of experience and a wealth of knowledge from the front lines of medical innovation, think cardiac mapping, lab automation, and infusion pumps. Not only is Priyank a recognized authority in embed…

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Survival, Resistance and Readiness in Dark Times – Vincent Liegey on the Trajectory and Future of the Degrowth Movement 51:01

4M ago51:01

51:01

In this interview Review of Democracy political economy editor Kristóf Szombati speaks with Vincent Liegey— degrowth activist, essayist, lecturer and editorial advisor of the new Routledge Handbook of Degrowth — about the roots, trajectory, and challenges of the degrowth movement. Beginning with the rise of degrowth from activist origins in early 2…

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Instrumentalization of Migration? - In Conversation with Nora Markard 39:01

4M ago39:01

39:01

In recent years, the EU’s increasingly right-leaning discourse on migration has given rise to a new narrative: the instrumentalization of migration. EU member states strivefor lower human rights standards, arguing that Belarus, under the authoritarian rule of Alexander Lukashenko, deliberately sends individuals who have fled countries such as Afgha…