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Global Ethics Corner: The Arab Spring Turns One Year Old: What Next?  
02/03/12
As the Arab Spring celebrates its one-year anniversary, the West is cautiously awaiting the next step. Will democracy flourish in the Middle East and North Africa? Or will authoritarianism and fundamental Islam be the basis for the new governments born from the revolutions of 2011?

A Single Roll of the Dice: Obama's Diplomacy with Iran  
Trita Parsi, Joanne J. Myers 01/27/12
Trita Parsi recounts the previously unknown story of American and Iranian negotiations during Obama's early years as president, and the real reasons for their current stalemate. Contrary to prevailing opinion, Parsi contends that diplomacy has not been fully tried.

Global Ethics Corner: Made in the USA: The Return of American Manufacturing  
01/27/12
President Obama's plan for a manufacturing revival has seen bipartisan support, but some economists are asking serious questions. Will more Americans on assembly lines stifle innovation? And can the U.S. compete with the lower wages and willing workers found overseas?

Top Risks and Ethical Decisions 2012 with Ian Bremmer  
Ian Bremmer, Art Kleiner 01/25/12
What are the biggest political risks in 2012, and the associated ethical decisions? Political risk guru Ian Bremmer discusses his annual list, and his conclusions may surprise you.

Global Ethics Corner: NATO and Turkey: Should Human Rights Be Sacrificed for a Missile Defense System?  
01/20/12
As NATO's missile defense system goes live in Turkey, questions have been raised about the nation's human rights record. Should NATO condemn Turkey's recent crackdowns on free speech and the media? Or does the country's geostrategic importance trump these concerns?

Making our Democracy Work: A Judge's View  
Stephen Breyer, Joanne J. Myers 01/17/12
The nine unelected justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have the power to strike down laws enacted by elected representatives. Why does the public accept the Court's decisions as legitimate, even when the decisions are highly unpopular? How does the Court help make democracy work?

Global Ethics Corner: Primaries and Democracy: Debating the Costs and Benefits of Primary Elections  
01/12/12
With primary season starting up, the Republican candidates are traveling around the nation, making stump speeches, kissing babies, and spending millions. Is this staple of American politics a showcase for democracy? Or does it just exacerbate ideological polarization in the U.S.?

Global Ethics Corner: North Korea: Engage, Ignore, or Confront?  
01/06/12
With the recent death of Kim Jong-il, the United States is once again wondering what to do about North Korea. Is engagement with the nation's new leader, Kim Jong-un, the answer? Or should the U.S. isolate the rogue state and continue to ignore its threats?

The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior Is Almost Always Good Politics  
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, Alastair Smith, Joanne J. Myers 01/05/12
Cynics or realists? Just follow five rules and you can be a successful dictator, say Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith--at least until old age or sickness catch up with you. They go on to argue that these precepts apply to all systems of governance, including U.S. democracy.

Justice for Hedgehogs  
Ronald Dworkin, Joanne J. Myers 01/05/12
"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." Ronald Dworkin argues for one big thing: the unity of value. He asserts that value is what makes sense of how we act as individuals, how we relate to others, and how we construct our lives.

Unpaid Internships: Is Free Labor Fair Labor?  
12/30/11
Unpaid internships are a valuable and sometimes necessary experience for college students and recent graduates, especially in light of the global financial crisis. But is this really a fair labor practice and does it just give an unfair advantage to more well-off job-seekers?

Global Ethics Corner: Jobs: Computers versus Humans  
12/23/11
Could the slow job growth rate of the Great Recession be attributed to new technologies replacing human labor and intelligence? Is artificial intelligence likely or desirable in a post-industrial society?

Disruptive Management: Fostering Transparency, Dialogue, and Innovation in Today's Business Climate  
Michael Mendenhall, Julia Taylor Kennedy 12/21/11
Technological innovation and the spread of social media have created a bevy of new considerations for companies, such as learning how to engage in meaningful dialogue with their stakeholders--including their employees.

Global Ethics Corner: Was Durban Doomed?  
12/16/11
With the 17th annual global climate change talks foundering in Durban, little hope is left for a worldwide initiative designed to combat global warming. Will local efforts be enough or does this latest setback truly doom a future of sustainability and worldwide cooperation?

Ethics Matter: A Conversation with Jeffrey Sachs  
Jeffrey D. Sachs, Julia Taylor Kennedy 12/09/11
Jeffrey Sachs discusses America's economic and moral crisis; development aid; the Occupy Wall Street movement; and the mobilization of youth around the world, fighting for the basic principles of freedom, justice, and equality.

Global Ethics Corner: Occupy Moscow  
12/09/11
With Vladimir Putin's party receiving a rebuke in the December 4th parliamentary elections, Russia is at a crossroads. With alleged voter fraud and massive protests as a backdrop, could this be the start of a new, more democratic era in Moscow or will Putin prevail?

Grand Pursuit: The Story of Economic Genius  
Sylvia Nasar, Joanne J. Myers 12/09/11
Looking back at the truly revolutionary rise in global living standards over the last 150 years, what have we learned about economic policies? There are clear lessons about what works and what doesn't, says Sylvia Nasar, author of "A Beautiful Mind."

Does the Elephant Dance?: Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy  
David M. Malone, Joanne J. Myers 12/08/11
Former Canadian High Commissioner to India David Malone gives a comprehensive survey of contemporary Indian foreign policy. He begins by focusing on India's geography, history, and capability, and covers relations with the U.S., China, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Economics of Good and Evil: The Quest for Economic Meaning from Gilgamesh to Wall Street  
Tomas Sedlacek, Joanne J. Myers 12/08/11
Why pretend that economics is value free? It's a product of our civilization and riddled with moral judgements, says Sedlacek. By separating economics from ethics we have created a zombie, a monster without a soul. The two have to be put back together.

The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution  
Francis Fukuyama 12/08/11
How did human beings succeed in creating the ideal of strong, accountable governments that adhere to the rule of law? Francis Fukuyama provides a sweeping account of how today's basic political institutions developed.

Confronting Corruption and Ethics in Emerging Markets  
William O'Rourke Jr., Julia Taylor Kennedy 12/08/11
Is it possible to grow a company to $1 billion in revenue in Russia without giving a single bribe? In this interactive workshop with high-level professionals, Alcoa's Bill O'Rourke shares how he navigated the murky ethical conundrums that come with leadership of a global business.

The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade  
Andrew Feinstein, Joanne J. Myers 12/07/11
In 2010, global military expenditure was roughly $1.6 trillion--that's $235 for every person on earth. This has profound impacts, from the perpetuation of conflict, to the corrosion of democracy, to massive socioeconomic costs.

They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children: The Global Quest to Eradicate the Use of Child Soldiers  
Lt. Gen. Romeo A. Dallaire 12/06/11
Child soldiers are a weapons system that is effective, cheap, and complete. How do we counter that? How do we make the use of children a liability? How do we stop people from reverting to using children as the primary weapons system of a conflict?

Anatol Lieven on Pakistan  
Anatol Lieven, David C. Speedie 12/06/11
Pakistan expert Anatol Lieven unravels Pakistan's troubled and complex relationships with the U.S., Afghanistan, the Taliban, and its own army--and adds this special note on what bin Laden's death means for U.S.-Pakistan relations.

A Conversation with Microfinance Pioneer Susan Davis  
Susan Davis, Julia Taylor Kennedy 12/06/11
Microfinance started as a movement for social justice and women's equality and gave birth to an industry, says Davis. This gave rise to scale, efficiency, and large numbers of people being served--over 150 million of the world's poorest households.

Giving Voice To Values: How To Speak Your Mind When You Know What’s Right  
Mary C. Gentile 12/06/11
Through experiential exercises that act as rehearsals, we can learn to how to act on our values in real-life situations, says Mary Gentile. She shares a ground-breaking new approach that prepares professionals to respond to ethical challenges in the workplace.

Philip Howard on Civility in Everyday Life  
Philip K. Howard 12/06/11
Philip Howard argues that an excess of government regulations and the law has corroded the institutions of authority in our society, with many deleterious effects, and one of the victims of that is our sense of ethics and civility.

Beyond Good Intentions: The Promise and Peril of Citizen Engagement with Foreign Policy  
Rebecca Hamilton, Rachel Davis 12/06/11
What were the accomplishments and failures of the U.S. grassroots movements that responded to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, and how do these lessons apply to grassroots movements in general?

Behind the Headlines: Pakistan  
Ahmed Rashid, 12/06/11
With its mix of militants, nuclear weapons, and chronic domestic unrest, Pakistan's problems have implications for the entire world. Prize-winning author and journalist Ahmed Rashid gives a chilling account of the situation in his homeland.

The Good Book: A Humanist Bible  
A.C. Grayling 12/06/11
Philosopher A.C. Grayling has created a non-religious Bible that draws from the wealth of secular literature and philosophy in both Western and Eastern traditions. Whatever your beliefs, you will find food for thought in this wise and witty talk.

Ethics Matter Series: Interview with Joseph S. Nye, Jr.  
Joseph S. Nye, Jr. 12/06/11
Joseph Nye discusses the sources of his ideas, his major concepts such as soft power, the impact of these concepts, and his thoughts on the information revolution.

The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe  
Peter Godwin 12/06/11
Author and journalist Peter Godwin was born and raised in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). In this gripping talk he untangles his country's complex and tragic history, and shows us the arc of President Mugabe's brutal career.

I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity  
Izzeldin Abuelaish 12/06/11
Born in a Palestinian refugee camp, Dr. Abuelaish has devoted his life to medicine and to reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, even though his three daughters and a niece were killed by Israeli shelling. What drives this extraordinary man?

George F. Kennan: An American Life  
John Lewis Gaddis, Joanne J. Myers 12/02/11
George Kennan was one of the great men of the 20th century, says John Lewis Gaddis. And he was great in multiple dimensions: as the grand strategist of the Cold War; as a historian; and as author of one of the greatest of American diaries.

Global Ethics Corner: Goodbye Euro?  
12/02/11
The euro was once thought to be a symbol of peace and prosperity in post-World War II Europe. As the sovereign debt crisis continues, are we watching the end of this currency and, more ominously, a unified Europe?

Re-Imagining a Global Ethic  
Michael Ignatieff 12/01/11
"A global ethic makes it possible for us to agree to disagree about ultimate questions, provided we have the philosophical clarity that comes from that process of adversarial justification," says Ignatieff in this thoughtful and challenging talk.

International Reporting and the Brave New World of New Journalism  
Barbara Crossette, Zornitsa Stoyanova-Yerburgh 12/01/11
Veteran journalist Barbara Crossette discusses how international reporting has changed dramatically over the last few decades: new dangers, new competitors, and new ethical and professional challenges.

The Darwin Economy: Liberty, Competition, and the Common Good  
Robert H. Frank, Joanne J. Myers 12/01/11
Should economic policies be guided less by economist Adam Smith and more by naturalist Charles Darwin? Robert Frank thinks so, and has some provocative tax reform proposals.

Toward a More Robust Public Policy Environment in the Middle East  
Jon B. Alterman, David C. Speedie 11/28/11
Dr. Alterman describes the principal challenges for the Arab Middle East states as "developing human capital and strengthening public policy environments." In aspiring to these, he calls for patience and long-haul commitment, even restraint, from Western donor sources.

Global Ethics Corner: HIV Prevention and Behavior Change in Africa: Are Western-Imported Methods Working?  
11/25/11
Are Western-imported methods for fighting HIV/AIDS working in Sub-Saharan Africa? Some critics argue that campaigns more aligned with traditional African values could be more effective in fighting the disease than Western campaigns focused on abstinence and safe sex.

Illusions of Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism  
Louise Richardson, David C. Speedie 11/22/11
"It's time that we got ourselves out of this false sense of insecurity and realize that terrorism is here to stay, it will never pose an existential threat to this country, and the biggest threat it poses to us is that we will work ourselves into overreacting to the threat that it poses us."

But Will the Planet Notice?: How Smart Economics Can Save the World  
Gernot Wagner, Joanne J. Myers 11/18/11
You recycle? You turn down plastic and paper? Good. But none of that will save the tuna or stop global warming. If you want to make the planet notice, follow the economics, says Gernot Wagner.

Global Ethics Corner: Privacy and Responsibility on the Internet: Who Should Control your Identity on the Web?  
11/18/11
Who should control your Internet identity? In an age when bills are paid via PayPal, relationships are forged over Facebook, and revolutions are fueled by Twitter, these questions take on great prominence. How we answer them may define the Internet for years to come.

Global Ethics Corner: Debt and Democracy: Why Shouldn't Greeks Vote on Their Financial Future?  
11/11/11
The Greek tragedy unfolding over the European debt deal raises some important questions about the bounds between debt and democracy: Why shouldn't Greeks--or any citizenry for that matter--get to vote on the economic fate of their country?

Liberal Leviathan: The Origins, Crisis, and Transformation of the American World Order  
G. John Ikenberry, Joanne J. Myers 11/08/11
The U.S. may no longer be a unipolar power, but the world order it helped create is alive and well. The rise of other nations and the deepening of economic and security interdependence have resulted from the success and expansion of the postwar liberal order, not its breakdown.

Global Ethics Corner: How Should the U.S. Handle Islamic Terrorists?  
11/04/11
The fact that Guantanamo remains open, although the number of prisoners has been greatly reduced, shows how difficult it is to handle Islamic militants. Meanwhile, targeted killings have increased. Are we killing our high-profile enemies to avoid sending them to military prison?

The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century  
George Friedman 11/01/11
George Friedman, founder and CEO of Strategic Forecasting, Inc., asks: What's in store during this new century? Which nations will gain and lose power? How will new technologies change the way we live? He has some predictions that may surprise you.

America the Vulnerable: Inside the New Threat Matrix of Digital Espionage, Crime, and Warfare  
Joel F. Brenner, Joanne J. Myers 11/01/11
From the personal to the corporate to the national, our data is constantly at risk, says Joel Brenner. But it's like gravity; there's not much we can do about it. We just have to learn to live with the situation, stay alert, and limit potential damage.

Global Ethics Corner: Child Soldiers and Counter-Terrorism: Should the U.S. Aid Countries that Recruit Child Soldiers?  
10/28/11
Child soldiers and foreign aid raise an important ethical dilemma: Should allies that use child soldiers receive U.S. military aid, even if it compromises our opposition to the practice? When--if ever--should concerns about security trump concerns for human rights?

Ethics Matter: A Conversation with Peter Singer  
Peter Singer, Julia Taylor Kennedy 10/25/11
Utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer lives up to his beliefs, giving away 25-30 percent of his income to alleviate absolute poverty, and defending animal rights--or as he puts it, "extending equality beyond the species boundary." Here are his thoughts on these topics and more.

Global Ethics Corner: Iran and the United States: Is Military Conflict Inevitable?  
10/21/11
Recent allegations of an Iranian assassination plot in the United States have once again raised doubts about the effectiveness of sanctions. As confidence in a diplomatic solution wanes, can U.S. officials avoid military intervention without looking soft on Iran?

The Unraveling: Pakistan in the Age of Jihad  
John R. Schmidt, Joanne J. Myers 10/14/11
U.S. Foreign Service officer John Schmidt explains how the complex, dangerous relationship between the leaders of Pakistan and various jihadist groups came about, and how it all began to unravel after 9/11.

Global Ethics Corner: Occupy Wall Street: Does Rising Income Inequality Threaten American Democracy?  
10/14/11
Does rising income inequality pose a threat to American democracy? This question has long been taboo in American politics. Yet as "Occupy Wall Street" spreads across the United States, the political consequences of income inequality are grabbing headlines as never before.

Global Ethics Corner: Space Junk  
10/07/11
According to NASA, over 135 million pieces of man-made metal debris orbit the Earth. While the space race may be over, someone's got to do the cleaning up. But who?

Yahoo! and YouTube: Balancing Human Rights and Business  
Rachel Davis, Susan Morgan, Ebele Okobi-Harris, Abbi Tatton, Julia Taylor Kennedy 10/03/11
How do companies such as Yahoo! and YouTube decide on whether disturbing material should be banned from their sites? What are the free speech and human rights issues involved? What guidelines do they use? This fascinating workshop discusses specific cases.

Ethics Matter: A Conversation with William Easterly  
William Easterly, Devin T. Stewart, Julia Taylor Kennedy 10/03/11
The best system for discovering new approaches is not to have one planner at the top trying to decide what are going to be the successful innovations, says Bill Easterly. It's to have lots and lots of people at the bottom experimenting and finding their own innovations.

Global Ethics Corner: Blocking the Bid: Is the U.S. right to veto Palestinian Membership to the UN?  
09/30/11
As the UN Security Council weighs the Palestinian bid, is the U.S. right to oppose UN membership? Would Palestinian membership to the UN threaten future peace or could it provide a foundation for future negotiations?

Jackson-Vanik: Time for Reconsideration?  
Randi Levinas, Jack F. Matlock, Stephen Sestanovich, David C. Speedie 09/27/11
The Jackson-Vanik amendment has been imposed on Russia for 37 years. Is it time for repeal?

Global Ethics Corner: China's Aircraft Carrier: Who Rules the Waves?  
09/23/11
Is a far-reaching Chinese navy a threat to American naval superiority or to the West? Is China simply a major power, peacefully rising and pursuing its natural national interests? Perhaps, ruling the waves doesn’t have the same importance in the 21st century? What do you think?

Decision Points: The American Dream in the Balance  
Sam Speedie, William Gouveia, Julia Taylor Kennedy 09/20/11
Led by Sam Speedie, who stepped up immediately after 9/11 and went into public service, this group of under-40s Carnegie New Leaders discuss how to move the country forward and help other young people to make a difference, whether in government, business, or the non-profit sector.

Global Ethics Corner: Genocide Denial in Rwanda: Dealing with the Past or Subverting Democracy?  
09/16/11
Do laws that make it a crime to deny the existence of genocide help to lessen the chances of renewed conflict? Or, do they stifle freedom of speech--and risk eliminating political dissent? These are the questions currently debated in Rwanda.

That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back  
Thomas L. Friedman, Michael Mandelbaum, Joanne J. Myers 09/15/11
What can America do as it faces four major challenges--globalization, the revolution in information technology, chronic deficits, and its energy consumption?

Global Ethics Corner: Ten Years After 9/11: What Have We Learned?  
09/09/11
As we take stock of the decade since 9/11, the lessons we have learned are still unclear. Ten years on, analysts impart contentious lessons that may even be irreconcilable. As you reflect on the past decade, what did you learn from 9/11?

Global Ethics Corner: The Keystone XL Oil Pipeline and the National Interest  
09/02/11
A proposed Canadian pipeline would transport bitumen from the tar sands of Alberta to refineries on the Gulf Coast, crossing the border. Is Keystone XL in the national interest? Is secure access to oil worth the climate change consequences?

The Evolution of God  
Robert Wright 08/31/11
Robert Wright's astute analysis uses game theory: a religion that sees itself in a zero-sum relationship with outsiders will prove exclusionist and violent, while a religion that sees itself in a non-zero-sum relationship will adjust its theology accordingly. What does this mean for the future?

Global Ethics Corner: Libya After Qaddafi: Redefining our Responsibilities  
08/26/11
As Libya prepares for its future, do NATO member states have a moral responsibility to protect peace and stability? Or should Libya's future be of its own making? What do you think?

Henry Kaufman on Civility in the Financial Sector  
Henry Kaufman 08/24/11
What is the underlying source of the current financial turmoil? It is not lack of technological knowledge about how to structure and to trade securities. It stems mainly from behavioral and ethical shortcomings, from regulatory failures, and from historical amnesia, says Henry Kaufman.

Global Ethics Corner: In America, Does Pluralist Democracy Still Work?  
08/19/11
Has pluralism in America emphasized private interest over public good? Does the market for ideas need more supervision, or should the market rule?

What is Happening to News: The Information Explosion and the Crisis in Journalism  
Jack Fuller 08/17/11
Drawing on neuroscience, Jack Fuller explains why the information overload of contemporary life makes us dramatically more receptive to sensational news, while rendering the objective voice of standard journalism ineffective.

Global Ethics Corner: The Debt Crisis: Are Politicians the Problem?  
08/12/11
Instead of taking a leadership role, U.S. politicians merely "kicked the can down the road" to resolve the debt ceiling crisis, kicking off a U.S. credit rating downgrade and a global stock market meltdown. Should the U.S. government be given more or less authority in light of recent events?

Education for Employment Foundation: New Opportunities for Middle East Youth  
Ronald Bruder, David C. Speedie 08/10/11
Carnegie Council's David Speedie and Ronald Bruder, founder of the Education for Employment Foundation, discuss the Foundation's work in providing job training for at-risk youth in Arab Muslim countries, and also the impact of the Arab Spring.

Global Ethics Corner: Cyberwar Strategy: Defensive or Offensive?  
08/05/11
Governments and corporations are under serious and growing threat from cyber attacks. Which do you favor: a strategy that seeks out hackers and punishes them at the risk of waging an undeclared cyberwar, or a more defensive strategy, as adopted by today’s Pentagon?

The Next Convergence: The Future of Economic Growth in a Multispeed World  
Michael Spence 08/03/11
In the next 20 years, 75 to 80 percent of the world's population will have the same standard of living as today's advanced countries. What will this extraordinary set of pressures on natural resources and the environment mean for the planet?

Global Ethics Corner: Norway: When Belief Justifies Murder  
07/29/11
The power of belief is terrifying. Do you believe anything strongly enough to take a life without the sanction of authorities? Can any belief justify the killing of innocents? Where do you stand between belief and action?

Global Ethics Corner: Privacy, Ethics, and "News of the World"  
07/22/11
Outrage over "News of the World's" use of phone hacking raises the question: when is hacking acceptable? Phone surveillance is a common tool for national security. Where do you draw the line?

Charles Osgood on Civility in the Media  
Charles Osgood 07/20/11
In every sector of American society, civility has declined, according to recent polls--from vicious political rhetoric to attacks in the blogosphere and lack of personal decency. How can the media play a positive role in restoring civility?

Global Ethics Corner: The Challenge of Population Growth  
07/15/11
World population may hit 10.1 billion by the year 2100. Are population issues individual choices or are they fundamental concerns of public policy? How aggressively should policy intervene?

Higher Education in the Middle East: America's Legacy  
Joseph G. Jabbra 07/13/11
For generations, American universities have been educating students in the Middle East. President of Lebanese American University Joseph Jabbra makes an impassioned case for the American values that students absorb in these institutions, such as tolerance, philanthropy and service.

Global Ethics Corner: Patriotism: Unquestioned Commitment or Dangerous Justification  
07/08/11
Can you acknowledge dissenters as patriots? Can you dissent and still sing the national anthem wholeheartedly? Can you live in a middle ground?

The World Ahead: Conflict or Cooperation?  
Richard K. Betts 07/06/11
After the Cold War, Fukuyama, Huntington, and Mearsheimer each presented a bold vision of what the driving forces of world politics would be. Yet all have proved to be out of step with recent U.S. foreign policy. Is there a fourth vision for the world ahead?

Global Ethics Corner: Congress, the President, and Libya  
07/01/11
Should the president be supported by the legislative branch when making difficult foreign policy decisions requiring the use of force? How does this apply to Libya?

One Nation Under Surveillance: A New Social Contract to Defend Freedom Without Sacrificing Liberty  
Simon Chesterman 06/29/11
The boundaries between public and private are crumbling fast, often with the active or passive consent of those whose privacy is breached. What limits, if any, should be placed on a government's efforts to spy on its citizens in the name of national security?

Global Ethics Corner: "To Kill a Mockingbird" and Justice  
06/24/11
In "To Kill a Mockingbird" an innocent man is wrongfully sentenced. The author argues that all we can do in the face of injustice is try, accept, and move on. Should we trust always trust institutions? When the system fails is it enough to have fought, or should we go on to fight again?

The End of Arrogance: America in the Global Competition of Ideas  
Steven Weber, Bruce W. Jentleson 06/22/11
Free market capitalism, Western culture, democracy—the ideas that shaped 20th century world politics and underpinned U.S. foreign policy—have lost a good deal of their strength. Authority is now more contested and power more diffused. How should the U.S. meet these challenges?

Global Ethics Corner: Libya and the Responsibility to Protect  
06/17/11
The intervention in Libya is the first major action authorized by the Security Council under the "responsibility to protect." Should we take military steps when leaders attack their own people? Or does this violate the state's right to self-determination?

Arkady Murashev on "Reforming" the Moscow Police Force (1991-92)  
Arkady Murashev 06/15/11
Active in Russian politics since the early days of Perestroika, Arkady Murashev discusses his part in bringing down the Soviet Union and and working towards a new form of government.

Global Ethics Corner: Is There A 'Third Way' to Engage China?  
06/10/11
The Chinese economy and defense budget have grown at an enormous rate over the past five years. Do you think that this will lead to global confrontation? Or will China have a "peaceful rise"? Could there be a third way that blends competition and cooperation?

How Wars End: Why We Always Fight the Last Battle  
Gideon Rose 06/08/11
Pax Americana is a good thing, declares Gideon Rose. The problem is that even when the U.S. wins militarily, it often botches dealing with war's aftermath because it fails to define its political objectives.

The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom  
Evgeny Morozov 06/07/11
Amid the euphoria about the power of the Internet and social media, Morozov sounds a note of caution. He reminds us that these tools can also entrench dictators, threaten dissidents, and make it harder--not easier--to promote democracy.

Global Ethics Corner: Southern Sudan: Would You Declare War?  
06/03/11
Within weeks of independence for Southern Sudan, the Northern Sudanese Army annexed the disputed town of Abyei. Should Southern Sudan respond militarily, risking a larger war? Or should they move ahead with independence on July 9 as planned?

The Unfinished Global Revolution: The Pursuit of a New International Politics  
Mark Malloch Brown 06/01/11
Is the world ready to embrace more powerful international institutions and the values needed to underpin a truly globalist agenda—the rule of law, human rights, and opportunity for all?

Global Ethics Corner: Taiwan: Is there a Statute of Limitation on Corruption?  
05/27/11
Can corruption be legitimized by common usage, legal process, or subsequent legislation? Should old crimes go unpunished by legislative amnesty? Or is it more important simply to correct the abuse and move forward?

How to Run the World: Charting a Course to the Next Renaissance  
Parag Khanna 05/25/11
We're living in a multi-polar, multi-civilizational world, says Parag Khanna, and the old rules no longer apply. Increasingly, states, international organizations, NGOs, and corporations must work in partnerships and find ways to strengthen mutual accountability.

Global Ethics Corner: Training SEAL Team 6: The Point of the Sword  
05/20/11
Could SEAL Team 6 have captured bin Laden alive? Should training for elite military forces prioritize thoughtfulness at the risk of indecision?

Rise of the Rest IV: Critical Regions in Crisis  
Nikolas K. Gvosdev, Devin T. Stewart, Dov Waxman, David C. Speedie 05/19/11
Optimistic and bleak by turns, a panel of experts analyzes the dilemmas facing the rising and existing powers--from protests across the Middle East, to the earthquake and nuclear disaster in Japan, to rising food and oil prices across the world.

The Future of Power  
Joseph S. Nye, Jr. 05/18/11
"In the information age, the mark of a great power is not just whose army wins, but also whose story wins," says Joseph Nye. This talk includes his thoughts on China, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iran, and more.

Obama's Foreign Policy: What Matters and What Doesn't for America's Future?  
George Friedman 05/17/11
Elections and campaigns are about options. Governing is about constraints. For Obama--and every president--what happens when foreign policy options meet foreign policy constraints?

Global Ethics Corner: Bin Laden's Death  
05/13/11
Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan in a mission by U.S. Navy SEALS. Should the U.S. have captured him alive and put him on trial? Was the U.S. justified in entering Pakistan without the consent of their government?

The Next Decade: Where We've Been...and Where We're Going  
George Friedman 05/11/11
The challenge of the next decade is not American power, says George Friedman. It is the preservation of the republic through a management of the international system that faces the fact that, intended or not, we're an empire. So long as we refuse to face that, we can't be effective.

Global Ethics Corner: When Government Changes the Rules: Taiwan's Feed-in-Tariff  
05/06/11
Taiwan requires electric utilities to purchase renewable energy, subsidized by the government. Recently when solar rates went down, the government changed the contract terms, saving on the amount of government funding but causing solar investors to make less profit. Was this justified?

Global Ethics Corner: Disaster, Decline, or Rebirth: A Japanese Fish Story  
04/29/11
Japan's recent tsunami and nuclear disaster have devastated its fishing industry. Fish are at the heart of Japanese culture, yet worldwide stocks of wild fish are in drastic descent. Should there be a push to revive this occupation or should Japan be trying to grow new industries?

Beirut, Damascus, Tehran, and Tel Aviv: The Moment of Reckoning is Near  
Rami Khouri 04/27/11
As powerful regional forces confront each other over the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri, a day of reckoning is inevitable. Will there be a compromise or will the struggle be settled on the battlefield of Lebanon, Syria, Iran, or Israel?

Global Ethics Corner: The Power of Economic Models  
04/22/11
Economic models were the basis for crucial practical decisions that led to the 2008-09 financial crisis. Yet government bailouts remain controversial because free market advocates see intervention as wrong. Do you agree with the need to manage markets? Or should the economy be guided only be the "invisible hand"?

Negotiating with Evil: When to Talk to Terrorists  
Mitchell B. Reiss 04/20/11
When, how, and under what conditions should governments talk to terrorists? Can opening a dialogue bring conflicts to a faster resolution?

Global Ethics Corner: Assisting Political Parties in the Middle East  
04/15/11
In the aftermath of popular uprisings in the Middle East, Western aid-donors are confronted by a difficult dilemma. Should they work with anti-democratic or politically extreme domestic groups? Is excluding some parties in the name of democracy justified?

The U.S. Navy's New Energy Revolution  
Ray Mabus 04/13/11
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus is working to chart a new course for the Navy and Marine Corps, that by 2020 will dramatically reduce the Navy's consumption of fossil fuels. He also prepared the long-term recovery plan for the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of the oil spill.

Global Ethics Corner: Lustration: Purging Civil Servants in New Democracies  
04/08/11
In transitions from authoritarian rule to democracy, systems must decide who to exclude from public office. What do you do with those who, without being guilty, cannot be called innocent? Is it undemocratic to ban them from holding government positions?

Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power  
Robert D. Kaplan 04/06/11
Robert D. Kaplan declares that the Indian Ocean area will be the true nexus of world power and conflict in the coming years and it is here that U.S. foreign policy must concentrate if America is to remain dominant in an ever-changing world.

Global Ethics Corner: The Impact of Dependence on Oil  
04/01/11
Oil is cost-efficient as a primary energy source--in the short term. Long-term, however, oil poses economic risks and damages the environment. Should we allow markets to determine energy sources or implement energy policies to invest in alternatives?

The Lost Peace: Leadership in a Time of Horror and Hope, 1945-1953  
Robert Dallek 03/30/11
In a striking reinterpretation of the postwar years, Robert Dallek examines what drove leaders around the globe--Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Mao, de Gaulle, and Truman--to rely on traditional power politics, and points out the lessons we can draw from their mistakes.

Global Ethics Corner: Nuclear Power's Future  
03/25/11
Due to the high demand of energy, competitive costs, and environmental concerns, nuclear power seemed like a reasonable option. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan have since raised serious concerns about its safety. Is nuclear power worth the risk?

Facts are Subversive: Political Writing from a Decade without a Name  
Timothy Garton Ash 03/22/11
Looking back over the last decade, Timothy Garton Ash catalogues the challenges facing the EU--the economy, a united foreign policy, the integration of Muslims--and concludes that despite its problems the union has taken important steps forward.

Global Ethics Corner: Health Dollars and Polio  
03/18/11
Bill Gates is spending one billion dollars in two years to eradicate polio. Although a deadly and crippling disease, it is extremely hard to end and there were only 1,000 cases reported last year. Is Gates' pledge a misallocation of global health resources?

Can Obama Please Both Arabs and Israelis? What the Polls and History Tell Us  
Shibley Telhami 03/16/11
Despite Obama's rhetoric, most Arabs still see America through the prism of pain of the Arab-Israeli conflict, says Telhami, and a majority of Arabs and Israelis no longer believe peace is possible. Both the Arabs and the Israelis need to put public opinion aside and build an agreement.

Global Ethics Corner: Turkey, Islam, and Democracy  
03/11/11
Turkey's democracy has been extolled as a model in the Middle East, but has also been belittled for its creeping authoritarianism. Does Turkey offer hope to those states making a democratic transformation in the Arab world? Or is its system under threat?

Top Risks and Ethical Decisions 2011  
Daniel Altman, Ian Bremmer, Zachary Karabell 03/09/11
In this lively discussion, economist Daniel Altman, political scientist/risk expert Ian Bremmer, and economic and political analyst Zachary Karabell present what each sees as the top risks for this year--and well beyond.

Global Ethics Corner: Defeating Piracy  
03/04/11
In March 2011, there were over 50 vessels and 800 people held hostage by Somali pirates. What should be the response to these captures? Should a third party attack, negotiate, seek legal remedies, or continue to make the best of a terrible situation?

The Politics of Happiness: What Government Can Learn from the New Research on Well-Being  
Derek Bok 03/02/11
How can governments use the latest research on well-being to improve the quality of life for all their citizens? What role can government policy play in creating individual happiness?

Global Ethics Corner: America on a Global Ethics Thermometer: Image and Reality  
02/25/11
How well do the institutions of government live up to the expectations of their people? What has America got right? What should it change? How do other countries measure up?

How the Economy Works: Confidence, Crashes and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies  
Roger E. A. Farmer 02/23/11
We need to synthesize the idea that a free-market economy self-corrects and the Keynesian principle that capitalism needs some guidance, says economist Roger Farmer. The goal is to correct the excesses without stifling entrepreneurship and instituting central planning.

John Exnicios on Training USSR Dissidents  
John Exnicios, David C. Speedie 02/16/11
David Speedie interviews John Exnicios, former vice president of the Krieble Institute. Exnicios played a lead role in training Russian dissidents in the last years of the Soviet Union.

Global Ethics Corner: IDs, Personal Privacy, and India  
02/11/11
The Indian government plans to give all 1.2 billion Indians a fingerprint ID. Are you in favor of a national biometric ID to prevent identity theft and facilitate commerce? Or are you concerned about the privacy implications? In any case, are universal IDs only a matter of time? 

Exorbitant Privilege: The Rise and Fall of the Dollar and the Future of the International Monetary System  
Barry Eichengreen 02/09/11
Barry Eichengreen argues that while the dollar is bound to lose its singular status, the coming changes will be neither sudden nor dire.

Global Ethics Corner: Egypt: Democracy or Demography?  
02/04/11
Two waves are overwhelming Egypt and possibly the Middle East: democracy and demography. Can a youthful imperative for rapid change amplify or diminish the growth of democracy? Can a populist revolution contain the seeds of an authoritarian regime?

Putting Middle East Youth to Work: Partnering with Business to Turn a Youth Tsunami into an Asset  
Ronald Bruder, Jasmine Nahhas di Florio 02/02/11
Founder and CEO Ron Bruder and VP Jasmine Nahhas di Florio introduce Education for Employment Foundation, an NGO that creates employment opportunities for youth in the Middle East and North Africa. Five programs are underway: Egypt, Jordan, West Bank/Gaza, Morocco, and Yemen.

AMEXICA: War Along the Borderline  
Ed Vulliamy 01/28/11
In a horrific account, Ed Vulliamy describes the ultraviolent, nihilistic "narco-traficante" culture of the Mexican-American border, a land of drug addicts and cartels.

Global Ethics Corner: Tunisia: The Jasmine Revolution and Western Foreign Policy  
01/27/11
In Tunisia, the Jasmine Revolution showed the vulnerability of unpopular and anti-democratic regimes. Should the West support authoritarian regimes to contain political Islam? Should it watch popular passions erect potentially anti-democratic governments? Is there a third alternative?

Global Ethics Corner: 2011 Top Risks and Ethical Decisions  
01/21/11
The annual announcement from the Eurasia Group of top global risks is here. Do you agree with their choice of fundamental issues for 2011?

Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia  
Michael Korda 01/19/11
Michael Korda reveals the extraordinary man behind the myth of Lawrence of Arabia. He discusses T. E. Lawrence's contradictory nature, a born leader who was utterly fearless but remained shy and modest; and a scholar who also invented guerrilla warfare. 

Global Ethics Corner: Populism, Protectionism, and China  
01/14/11
Chinese policies tilt the field and undermine free trade, according to journalist David Leonhardt. Should the U.S. use sanctions more aggressively to enforce free trade principles and to protect domestic production? Or are the negative economic consequences too risky?

Atlantic: Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories  
Simon Winchester 01/12/11
Master raconteur Simon Winchester tells a series of gripping and little-known tales of the Atlantic, the ocean he calls "the inland sea of modern civilization."

Global Ethics Corner: Diplomats and Commercial Sales  
01/07/11
Wikileaks cables reveal that U.S. diplomats are "a big part of the sales force." Is diplomacy diminished or conflicts harder to resolve if diplomats are aggressive commercial partisans? Or are diplomats promoting products a crucial part of 21st century international affairs?

Washington Rules: America's Path to Permanent War  
Andrew J. Bacevich, Joanne J. Myers 01/05/11
It is the time to examine the Washington consensus on national security and why it must change, says Professor Bacevich--and to acknowledge that fixing Afghanistan should not take precedence over fixing Detroit.

Leading by Example  
Colonel Bob "Brutus" Charette, Jr. (USMC), Rear Admiral Philip Cullom (USN), Brigadier General Peter A. "Duke" DeLuca (U.S. Army), Jonathan Powers 12/22/10
Representatives from the Navy, the Marines, and the Army Corps of Engineers illustrate how the U.S. military is on the forefront of efforts to develop and implement renewable, clean energy sources, both to power U.S. forces and to combat climate change.

Global Ethics Corner: International Humanitarian Law and Non-State Actors  
12/17/10
Should non-state armed groups be excluded from the formal realm of international humanitarian law? Should they be held to the same standards as states during warfare? What is the proper mechanism for enforcing the rules of war without lending non-state actors legitimacy?

What Technology Wants  
Kevin Kelly 12/15/10
In a brand-new view of technology, co-founder of Wired magazine Kevin Kelly suggests that it is not just a jumble of wires and metal. He argues that technology is actually a living, evolving organism that has its own unconscious needs and tendencies.

Global Ethics Corner: WikiLeaks: Trust or Transparency?  
12/10/10
U.S. diplomatic cables exposed through WikiLeaks raise several questions about transparency and trust. Should governments employ secrecy in diplomacy? Without transparency, are democracy and diplomacy compatible?

The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches from the Fault Line between Christianity and Islam  
Eliza Griswold 12/08/10
More than half of the world's Muslims and Christians live along the tenth parallel in Africa or in Asia. How do these two great intersecting faiths interact?

Global Ethics Corner: Interests or Values: The West and Israel  
12/03/10
Western support of Israel demonstrates a clash of interests and values. Israel is a key U.S. ally, yet its policies towards Gaza and the West Bank are repeatedly marked with human rights violations. Can there be a middle ground in foreign policy where interests and values meet?

One Nation Under Contract: The Outsourcing of American Power and the Future of Foreign Policy  
Allison Stanger 12/01/10
Allison Stanger shows how contractors became an integral part of U.S. foreign policy, often in scandalous ways, but maintains that the problem is not contractors, but the absence of good government. Outsourcing done right is, in fact, indispensable to U.S. interests today.

Global Ethics Corner: Ethics and Humanitarian Intervention  
11/26/10
The UN Charter states that human rights is the responsibility of international society. It also prohibits forceful interference against the territorial integrity and political independence of any state. Which takes precedence in humanitarian crises, sovereignty or human rights?

Sustainable Societies  
Sartaz Ahmed, Larry Burns, Joan Krevlin, Thomas Stewart 11/24/10
What will it take to build sustainable societies? Watch Sartaz Ahmed of Booz on building sustainable cities; Larry Burns (formerly of GM) on clean vehicles; and architect Joan Krevlin on green buildings.

Global Ethics Corner: WTO and the Washington vs. Beijing Consensus  
11/19/10
With the rise in power of emerging markets and developing economies should the architecture of global economics change to reflect their market approaches? Should the U.S. direct reforms, or should China and other developing markets take leadership?

Eco Innovations: Small Sparks, Big Impact  
Shakeel Avadhany, Richard A. Cook, Peter Hartwell, Niko Canner, Devin T. Stewart 11/17/10
How do sustainable innovations make it to market? Three very different inventors talk about their creative process, how their inventions have had a social impact, and what a more sustainable society might look like.

Global Ethics Corner: Handpicking Successors and the Brazilian Elections  
11/12/10
Brazil's President Lula da Silva handpicked Dilma Rousseff as his successor, even though she has never held political office. How important is continuity in governments? Is handpicking a successor acceptable in order to win an election or to direct a government? What do you think?

Global Ethics Corner: The EU and Serbia  
11/05/10
Would Serbian admission to the EU prevent another Balkan War? Is promoting Serbian democracy more important than securing justice for 1990s genocides? In pursuing war criminals, is the carrot of EU admission more effective than the stick of EU exclusion?

Facing the Crises of our Time: The United Nations and the United States in the 21st Century  
Gillian Sorensen, Robin van Puyenbroeck, Devin T. Stewart 11/03/10
"The UN can do better and it can do more, and when the U.S. is fully committed the chance of success is always greater. The UN is imperfect but indispensable. Our challenge is to build upon its strengths and address its weaknesses in the most constructive way."

Global Ethics Corner: Neo-liberalism and Welfare  
10/29/10
Do markets promote the greatest good for the greatest number? What do you think? Should long-term economic growth, promised by a free market, be prioritized over concerns about inequality? How do you balance a society's need both to create wealth and insure welfare?

Captive: My Time as a Prisoner of the Taliban  
Jere Van Dyk 10/27/10
Journalist and author Jere Van Dyk tells of his decades-long involvement with Afghanistan, and gives a harrowing account of his 2008 kidnapping and imprisonment by the Taliban in the no-man's land between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Global Ethics Corner: Can Moral Injury Be a Wound of War?  
10/22/10
Moral injury is a new concept to describe the harm done to combatants traumatized by war. Is this concept confined to combatants alone, or is moral injury to soldiers simply a more extreme extension of the moral issues faced by everyone?

The Frugal Superpower: America's Global Leadership in a Cash-Strapped Era  
Michael Mandelbaum 10/20/10
Michael Mandelbaum says that in this age of soaring deficits, the era marked by an expansive U.S. foreign policy is coming to an end. He recommends a new policy, centered on a reduction in the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

Global Ethics Corner: Politics and Civility  
10/15/10
Civility has fled the 24/7 news cycle. Public life need not be this way. Why do we tolerate, even gorge, on this lack of civility? How do you handle public debate? Do you paint opposing views as demonic?

Grand Strategies: Literature, Statecraft, and World Order  
Charles Hill 10/13/10
Reading classical literature teaches us that there are seldom clear answers to real-life dilemmas, says Charles Hill. It gives us the breadth of knowledge to realize that a multitude of factors need to be taken into account.

Global Ethics Corner: Geoengineering  
10/08/10
Global warming makes it impossible to limit environmentalism to one country. Should geoengineering be regulated multilaterally before rogue countries experiment with our collective future? Or does the problem demand research and action now, despite the risks?

Self-Determination and Conflict Resolution: From Kosovo to Sudan  
Louise Arbour 10/06/10
Drawing on the International Court's judgment on the legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, Arbour examines the pursuit of self-determination in a range of situations, focusing particular attention on the upcoming referendum in Southern Sudan.

Global Ethics Corner: China and the U.S.: Trade Wars or Mutual Advantage  
10/01/10
China undervalues its currency and pursues an export-led growth model, resulting in the loss of U.S. jobs. Confrontation on this issue is dangerous, yet doing nothing is potentially disastrous for the U.S. economy. How would you respond to China's growing power?

Ethics for a 21st Century Army: Creating a Code of Professional Military Ethics  
Christopher Case, David Rodin, Joel H. Rosenthal 09/29/10
What are the basic principles that should guide professional soldiers in the 21st century?

Global Ethics Corner: Deepwater Drilling and Fossil Fuels  
09/24/10
Offshore oil spills have devastating consequences, yet storm-drain runoff from leaky cars and gas stations can be just as bad. Do the risks of deepwater drilling outweigh the rewards? Could efficiency and innovations on land meet our energy demands without further drilling?

The Betrayal of American Prosperity: Free Market Delusions, America's Decline, and How We Must Compete in the Post-Dollar Era  
Clyde Prestowitz 09/22/10
Clyde Prestowitz argues that the U.S. is rapidly losing the basis of its wealth and power, as well as its freedom of action and independence. If we do not make dramatic changes quickly, we will confront a painful, permanent slide in our standard of living.

Global Ethics Corner: Extinction  
09/17/10
What should be the balance between preservation and consumption? Should there be a global ethic for protecting endangered species? If so, how should it be enforced?

Rebuilding War-Torn States: The Challenge of Post-Conflict Economic Reconstruction  
Graciana del Castillo 09/15/10
After wars end, what steps should countries take to consolidate peace? Graciana del Castillo identifies five premises that are necessary for war economies to transition into sustainable and productive markets.

Global Ethics Corner: Declining Fish Stocks  
09/10/10
Three-quarters of the world's fish stocks are in distress and many fisheries could collapse by midcentury. Should we ban industrial fishing or regulate it for sustainable output? Can farmed fish make up the difference? Furthermore, who will police the oceans? What do you think?

"The End of the Free Market:" Devin Stewart Interviews Ian Bremmer  
Ian Bremmer, Devin T. Stewart 09/08/10
In a discussion about his latest book, Ian Bremmer analyzes the troubled relationship between the U.S. and China, and the rise of what he calls "state capitalism"--where the state is the principal actor and there is an absence of the rule of law.

Global Ethics Corner: The Sustainability of Cities  
09/03/10
Half the world now lives in cities, and they are growing. Are megacities an opportunity or a threat?

Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy  
Raghuram G. Rajan 09/01/10
Raghuram Rajan traces the deepening fault lines in a world overly dependent on the indebted U.S. consumer to power global economic growth, and where the U.S. has growing inequality and a thin social safety net. If these flaws are not fixed, we should be prepared for an even more serious financial crisis.

Global Ethics Corner: Aircraft Carriers and Anti-Ship Missiles  
08/27/10
Have aircraft carriers lost their place as core naval assets for projecting force? Does the carrier's symbolic role and massive armament still sustain its central mission? For instance, would you risk U.S. carriers in a conflict across the Taiwan Strait?

Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America's Future  
Stephen Kinzer 08/25/10
Stephen Kinzer argues that the United States needs to rethink its alliances in the Middle East and focus on strategic relationships with Iran and Turkey rather than Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Global Ethics Corner: Enjoying, Managing, or Restoring Trout  
08/20/10
Should national parks introduce non-native species for recreational purposes, or focus on preserving the parks' natural state?

Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization  
Steven Solomon 08/18/10
Everything hinges on water; it is essential to life and to civilization. Will there be enough fresh water for 9 billion of us by 2050? In this talk, journalist Steven Solomon discusses the impending global water crisis.

Global Ethics Corner: A Mosque at Ground Zero  
08/13/10
The proposed building of an Islamic community center two blocks from 9/11’s Ground Zero has become a contentious issue. Would building the center promote the American virtues of religious freedom and speech? Or would it be counterproductive and insensitive, even if the intent is pure?

Five to Rule Them All: The UN Security Council and the Making of the Modern World  
David L. Bosco 08/12/10
What has been, is, and should be the role of the UN Security Council? Bosco chronicles its history--its successes and its failures--and concludes with some positive suggestions for the future.

Global Ethics Corner: Smartphones: From Popular Product to Ethical Dilemma  
08/06/10
Smartphones rely on coltan, much of which is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Given that the Congo represents one of the worst illustrations of modern mineral exploitation, what will you do?

EIA Interview: Michael Doyle on Nonintervention and the Responsibility to Protect  
Michael W. Doyle 08/04/10
What circumstances justify overriding sovereignty? Michael Doyle discusses the difficult questions surrounding nonintervention and the "unanimous revolution" of 2005, which led to the new norm known as the Responsibility to Protect.

Global Ethics Corner: Secrecy in Foreign Policy  
07/30/10
Is secrecy in foreign policy an unfortunate yet necessary way to maintain national security? Or does the lack of transparency in state decisions undermine democracy?

Bomb Power: The Modern Presidency and the National Security State  
Garry Wills 07/28/10
Garry Wills traces how the atomic bomb transformed our nation down to its deepest constitutional roots, defined the presidency, and redefined the government as a national security state.

Global Ethics Corner: Security in America  
07/23/10
The growth in national security measures since 9/11 is striking. Is this level of government investment worthwhile? Can there ever be too much security?

Beyond the NPT  
Roald Sagdeev, Frank von Hippel 07/21/10
Doctors Roald Sagdeev and Frank von Hippel have collaborated for decades on nuclear arms control and nonproliferation between the U.S. and the USSR. They discuss their work and their insights for the future arms control agenda.

Global Ethics Corner: Who Dies in Afghanistan: Soldiers, Civilians, or the Mission?  
07/16/10
How do you choose missions to fight a war effectively, while minimizing civilian deaths and meeting the obligation to your soldiers?

Soviet Fates and Lost Alternatives: From Stalinism to the New Cold War  
Stephen F. Cohen 07/14/10
Washington has squandered the opportunity for a fundamentally new U.S.-Russian relationship after the Cold War, says Stephen Cohen.

Global Ethics Corner: Mexico: Violence and Democracy  
07/09/10
Must governments meet violence with an authoritarian response? In the recent Mexican election, citizens could demand a crackdown on druglords at the price of personal freedoms, or continue to participate at the risk of their safety. Mexicans chose the latter. What would you do?

Superfusion: How China and America Became One Economy and Why the World's Prosperity Depends on It  
Zachary Karabell 07/07/10
In a witty and astute talk, Zachary Karabell describes and explains what he calls 'superfusion'--how the economies and capital flows of China and the U.S. became inextricably entwined to the point where neither can survive without the other.

Global Ethics Corner: Google and State Capitalism?  
07/02/10
Does the state capitalism model present a challenge to free market political systems? Is Google's confrontation with China a taste of the future? What do you think?

The Plundered Planet: Why We Must--and How We Can--Manage Nature for Global Prosperity  
Paul Collier 06/30/10
What, asks Oxford economist Paul Collier, are realistic and sustainable solutions to correcting the mismanagement of the natural world? Can an international standard be established to resolve the complex issues of unchecked profiteering on the one hand and environmental romanticism on the other?

Global Ethics Corner: Chinese Currency and Ethics  
06/28/10
When China loosens the peg of its currency to the dollar, the U.S. will benefit--but it may hurt labor in China. While the looser Chinese currency is fairer to trading partners, it conflicts with protection of Chinese citizens' interests. How would you balance the two concerns?

Future Leaders and Global Business Values: The IBM Worldwide Student Survey  
Christopher Adkins, Ragna Bell, Michael Holland, Jason Mangone, Ellen McGrath 06/18/10
How do the views of today's students and CEOs differ with regard to business on a shared planet? IBM has engaged with the Council's Carnegie New Leaders and the Workshops for Ethics in Business program to understand these emerging perspectives.

Global Ethics Corner: Rwandan Health Care: A Model for the West?  
06/18/10
In Rwanda, 92 percent of citizens have government-mandated health insurance, collectively owned by the policy-holders themselves. Does organizing health care based on this mutual ethical obligation make sense for other countries? What do you think?

Top Risks and the Ethical Decisions for 2010  
Ian Bremmer, Georg Kell, Art Kleiner, Michele Wucker, Thomas Stewart, Devin T. Stewart 06/16/10
What's next? Using Eurasia Group's Top Risks as a starting point for identifying the major global challenges in 2010, the panelists identify what they see on the horizon and discuss the ethical issues involved.

Global Ethics Corner: Targeting Enemies in War: Is a "Kill List" Justified?  
06/11/10
Governments have a moral responsibility to protect their citizens. How far does that extend? Is a "kill list" justified?

Faith and Power: Religion and Politics in the Middle East  
Bernard Lewis 06/09/10
Bernard Lewis is one of the world's foremost Western scholars on Islam. In this eloquent talk he shares some of his knowledge, and explains how the different world views held by Christians and Muslims can lead to misunderstanding.

Global Ethics Corner: Development Aid  
06/04/10
Should the U.S. be helping developing countries when it has its own dramatic domestic problems?

After START--What Next? David Speedie Interviews Jayantha Dhanapala  
Jayantha Dhanapala, David C. Speedie 06/02/10
Jayantha Dhanapala, former Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs at the UN, gives his views on "getting to zero" on nuclear weapons.

Global Ethics Corner: After the War on Terror  
05/28/10
Will the next dominant international conflict be between state capitalism and free market capitalism? Will it supplant the war on terror? What do you think?

A Mosque in Munich: Nazis, the CIA, and the Rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the West  
Ian Johnson 05/27/10
What do Nazis, the CIA, and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the West have in common? Journalist Ian Johnson tells the untold story of a group of ex-Soviet Muslims who defected to Germany during World War II has a lesson for today: beware of using religion as a tool.

Global Ethics Corner: Global Fertility and U.S. Politics  
05/21/10
How do we meet the massive global issue of fertility without being mired in the abortion debate?

Eclipse of the Sunnis: Power, Exile, and Upheaval in the Middle East  
Deborah Amos 05/19/10
1.9 million Sunni Muslims have been forced into exile following the Iraq War, says Deborah Amos. What impact is this having on these people's lives, on Iraq, and on the region's delicate balance of power?

Global Ethics Corner: Are We Born Good?  
05/14/10
Are babies born with the morality they need or do they learn it from society? Is morality a biological trait that builds communities through enlightened self-interest, or does it come from a spiritual being? What do you think?

Interesting Times: Writings from a Turbulent Decade  
George Packer 05/12/10
George Packer discusses some of his essays from the period of September 11, 2001 to November 4, 2008; the luxury of being able to write long, in-depth articles for "The New Yorker" magazine; and the uncertain future of print journalism.

Global Ethics Corner: The U.S.: Shedding Hegemony with Grace  
05/07/10
Should the U.S. shed some global ambitions and responsibilities? Or, is America's global role simply too important, both to the U.S. and the world? What do you think?

Open Primaries: William Vocke Interviews Abel Maldonado, Lieutenant Governor of California  
Abel Maldonado, William C. Vocke Jr. 05/05/10
Under the current system, California has a deadlocked, polarized legislature that can't get anything done, says Lt. Gov. Maldonado. The solution is to create an open primary system. California voters will vote on this proposal in June.

Global Ethics Corner: British Elections: To Represent or to Govern?  
04/30/10
Should election results accurately reflect public opinion or should elections promote effective governance?

Freedom for Sale: Why the World Is Trading Democracy for Security  
John Kampfner 04/29/10
From Russia and China to the U.S. and the U.K., many seemingly dissimilar countries have an "unwritten pact," under which, consciously or not, the population trades some of their democratic rights for better living standards and political stability.

Global Ethics Corner: Should American Elections be Reformed?  
04/23/10
Is it time to reform the U.S. electoral structure? Should more views be represented? Do narrow interests have too much power? What do you think?

East Asian Security and Democracy: The Place of Taiwan  
Charles W. Kegley, Jr. 04/21/10
Taiwan has transformed itself into a prosperous, vibrant democracy, and recently tensions between Taiwan and China have lessened. As the balance of power between the U.S. and China shifts, what is the future for Taiwan, and what role will it play in the region?

Global Ethics Corner: The Irony of Nuclear Weapons?  
04/16/10
This short video on ethics asks: Are nuclear weapons a necessary evil? Is it better to live in a world with nuclear deterrence or one that is free of nuclear threats? What do you think?

Taming the Gods: Religion and Democracy on Three Continents  
Ian Buruma 04/15/10
Focusing on Muslims in Europe, Ian Buruma argues that religions (including Islam) and liberal democracies are compatible, despite many peoples' fears. Democracy allows space for religion as long as believers obey their society's laws.

Global Ethics Corner: Sports, NCAA Basketball, and Money  
04/09/10
Is the role of the NCAA to help students succeed through sports, or to garner money for educational institutions? With the high drop-out rate of NCAA basketball players, should the organization change its rules to encourage student athletes to complete their undergraduate degrees?

Forces of Fortune: The Rise of the New Muslim Middle Class and What it Will Mean for Our World  
Vali Nasr 04/07/10
The real key to bringing economic and political change to the Muslim world is capitalism, says Vali Nasr. Entrepreneurial middle classes the world over have a stake in the system and are more interested in economic success than religious extremism.

Global Ethics Corner: Do Good Guys Really Finish Last?  
04/01/10
Benefits from altruism include approval, enhanced image, and neural stimulation--feeling good. Yet if you act selfishly you will have more resources, and your individual behavior is unlikely to break down society. Everyone has to choose. What will you do?

Future Challenges: The UN and the UNA. David Speedie Interviews Ambassador Thomas Miller  
Thomas J. Miller, David C. Speedie 03/29/10
President and CEO of the UN Association of the USA, Ambassador Miller discusses the U.S. role in the world and the power of grass roots commitment. Citizens can change policy by reminding leaders of their obligations on issues such as climate change.

Global Ethics Corner: Markets: The Invisible Hand or Fairness?  
03/26/10
What do you think maximizes individual benefits in the marketplace? Is it cut throat competition or altruistic norms of fairness and trust? Can you have both?

Global Jobs Update, Part Two  
David Arkless, David Denoon, Maria Jepsen, Raymond Torres 03/24/10
A panel of experts from the International Labour Organization, business, academia, and the EU discuss the actions taken to address this multi-faceted crisis, and give suggestions for further ways to generate jobs.

Global Ethics Corner: The Ethics and Effectiveness of Basic Income Grants  
03/19/10
Can basic income grants work for those living in extreme poverty? Or are grants discouraging people from taking individual responsibility?

Global Jobs Update, Part One  
David Arkless, David Denoon, Maria Jepsen, Raymond Torres 03/17/10
A panel of experts from the International Labour Organization, business, academia, and the EU discuss the actions taken to address this multi-faceted crisis, and give suggestions for further ways to generate jobs.

Global Ethics Corner: Greece, Goldman, and Financial Transparency?  
03/12/10
This short video on ethics asks: Is Goldman Sachs responsible for the current financial crisis in Greece? Or should Greek politicians who knew of Goldman's practices be blamed for the state of their economy?

Global Ethics Corner: Televising the Olympics: Where Is the Sport?  
03/05/10
Does the quest for high television ratings deter Olympic sportscasters from focusing on strategies and techniques of sports? Should Olympic coverage focus more on the game than on athletes' personal stories?

Uninhibited, Robust, and Wide-Open: A Free Press for a New Century  
Lee C. Bollinger 03/03/10
Now that U.S. news outlets can instantaneously disseminate information across the world and foreign media have immediate access to the American market, what does press freedom really mean?

Is Public Diplomacy Beneficial for all Participants?  
02/26/10
One goal of public diplomacy is to create allies inside other states through education programs or cultural exchanges. Should this be viewed as enriching individuals, or as a sly attempt to manipulate another country's domestic politics?

The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050  
Joel Kotkin 02/24/10
How will the enormous projected growth of the U.S. population in the next four decades change the face of America? Will it make the U.S. weaker, or even more diverse and competitive?

Why Is the Energy Debate So Contentious?  
02/19/10
How do we balance the short-term interests at stake in the energy debate with our long-term needs? This short video on ethics asks: Why are energy and climate choices painted as opposites?

David Speedie Interviews Baroness Shirley Williams: A View from the United Kingdom on Transatlantic Relations  
Shirley Williams, David C. Speedie 02/17/10
In a wide-ranging conversation, Baroness Williams discusses the Obama administration's foreign policy; the situation in Afghanistan and in Iran; U.S. and British politics, including voter representation and corruption; and her work on nuclear disarmament.

Do You Agree or Resign?  
02/13/10
Can you hold to ethical standards and serve a government that makes mistakes? Does becoming a diplomat mean, "my country right or wrong"?

Arsenal of Democracy: The Politics of National Security--From World War II to the War on Terrorism  
Julian E. Zelizer 02/10/10
According to historian Julian Zelizer, partisan fighting has always shaped American foreign policy, and the issue of national security has always been part of our domestic conflicts.

Do People Matter in U.S. Foreign Policy?  
02/05/10
Is U.S. foreign policy determined by individual policy-makers and core values, or by external threats and domestic pressures?

Red Cloud at Dawn: Truman, Stalin, and the End of the Atomic Monopoly  
Michael D. Gordin 02/03/10
How does a state make a nuclear bomb? How does it hide its weapons program? How do other states detect nuclear proliferation? Michael Gordin addresses important questions about how we think about nuclear weapons past and present.

In America, Does Pluralist Democracy Still Work?  
01/29/10
Has pluralism in America emphasized private interest over public good? Does the market for ideas need more supervision, or should the market rule?

Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy  
Leslie Gelb 01/27/10
How can America build partnerships and coalitions to solve today's global problems? Will the nation continue to dominate world affairs, or are we fast approaching a "post-America" era?

God and Obama  
01/22/10
For President Obama, what is the relation between religion and politics?

Worse Than War: Genocide, Eliminationism, and the Ongoing Assault on Humanity  
Daniel Jonah Goldhagen 01/20/10
Rwanda, Bosnia, Cambodia, Darfur, Congo, and more--since World War II, genocide has caused more deaths than all wars put together. Goldhagen analyzes how and why genocides start and proposes steps the international community can take to stop them.

Is the American Dream Dead?  
01/15/10
America's global future seems in doubt with a frozen political process, mountains of debt, stagnant exports, global military commitments, and less secure friendships. Is the American Dream dead?

The Science of War: Defense Budgeting, Military Technology, Logistics, and Combat Outcomes  
Michael E. O'Hanlon 01/13/10
Michael O'Hanlon explains how military modeling and planning are done, taking as examples Desert Storm, the Iraq War, and the decisions to be made now about Afghanistan.

Top Risks and Ethical Decisions 2010  
01/08/10
The Eurasia Group identified ten top global risks for business this year, which should be understood not just as political and economic, but also as the basic choices they highlight. What do you think the fundamental issues are for 2010?

On Compromise and Rotten Compromises  
Avishai Margalit 01/06/10
Compromise can be a political virtue, especially for the sake of peace. When is political compromise acceptable, and when is it fundamentally rotten? What if a rotten compromise is politically necessary? Are there moral limits to acceptable compromise, and what are those limits?

How Markets Fail: The Logic of Economic Calamities  
John Cassidy 12/23/09
The market's failure was not simply a result of greed, mass myopia, or government failure, says John Cassidy, although these were all contributing factors. "I ultimately see this crisis as a crisis of ideas, and misapplied ideas."

The Cost of Climate Change  
12/18/09
This short clip on ethics asks: Is climate change a common public burden, or should individuals make their own choices? Globally do modernized countries have an obligation to developing countries?

Russia and U.S.-Russia Relations: David Speedie Interviews Ambassador Thomas Pickering  
Thomas R. Pickering, David C. Speedie 12/16/09
Ambassador Thomas Pickering discusses Russia's role in the unfolding events in Iran and other potential areas of cooperation between Russia and the United States, including missile defense and NATO enlargement.

Am I My Brothers' Keeper?  
12/11/09
This short video on ethics asks: Are we responsible for the well-being of children around the globe, millions of whom die every year from preventable causes? Or does charity begin at home?

Democracy and Waging War  
12/04/09
In a difficult and protracted war democracies may accept a draw due to a lack of public support. If you were caught between bowing to public opinion and taking bold positions that may alienate the electorate, which would you choose?

Serving on a Nonprofit Board: Opportunities, Qualifications, and Expectations (Edited Highlights)  
Alice Korngold, Karthik Krishnan, Cheryl Rosario, Mitchell G. Taylor 12/02/09
Joining a nonprofit board of directors is a tremendous opportunity to help an organization advance a mission that is important to you. Learn who nonprofit boards are looking for, what is expected of board members, and how people and boards connect.

America: Example or Moral Champion?  
11/27/09
What is the U.S. role in the world? There are two extremes. Being an example, or employing forceful U.S. engagement and being a moral champion. Neither pole will or should prevail, but which might best drive America's interests?

Can You Ever Earn Too Much?  
11/20/09
Within society there seems to be a general public disdain for excess and a private commitment to excess. Should there be formal or informal standards for compensation? Can you ever earn too much?

The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War  
Caroline Alexander 11/18/09
The "Iliad" is usually seen as a martial epic glorifying war. Yet in fact, says Alexander, Homer was at pains to depict the Trojan war--and war in general--as a pointless catastrophe that blighted all it touched.

Your Income, Your Liberty, and Your Equality?  
11/13/09
Inequality in America has been accelerating rapidly since the 1980s. But capping income levels could put liberty and competitiveness at risk. This short video on ethics asks: What is the right balance between liberty and equality?

Afghanistan Briefing  
Jeffrey D. McCausland, Joel H. Rosenthal, David C. Speedie 11/11/09
"Afghanistan makes Iraq look easy," says U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Dr. McCausland. His comprehensive and evenhanded briefing analyzes the situation on the ground and the possible consequences of sending more troops.

Paying Others to Fight Our Battles  
11/06/09
Private contractors bring important skills to tasks outside the capability or mission of military personnel, but they are not accountable to the government or American people. Is this political cover valuable? What about the hidden costs?

Sustainable Branding: A U.S.-Japan Corporate Dialogue  
Ichiro Aoyagi, Max Cuellar, Scott Kaufman, Katsutoshi Konuma, Edward J. Lincoln, Michael Mendenhall, Takejiro Sueyoshi 11/04/09
See the highlights from this panel discussion on sustainable branding, with participants from the U.S. and Japan. They address customer engagement, supply chain management, investor relations, and the impact of the economic crisis.

Emerging Challenges in a Network World  
Michael Ancram 11/03/09
In an increasingly interconnected world, soft power and engagement with all the world's players will become increasingly important--and that includes talking to Hamas and the Taliban, says Ancram.

Global Ethics Corner: When You Cross a Line  
10/30/09
When balancing life's complex tensions, how do you know when you've crossed a line?

Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia  
Robert Lacey 10/28/09
After spending years in the Kingdom talking to people in all walks of life, Robert Lacey gives us a modern history of the Saudis in their own words, revealing a people attempting to reconcile life under religious law with the demands of a rapidly changing world.

Troops in Afghanistan and Fighting Foreign Wars  
10/23/09
When war is a foreign insurgency, balancing human risks and possibility of success is a fundamental ethical dilemma for leaders. What do you think should happen in Afghanistan?

The Predictioneer's Game: Using the Logic of Brazen Self-Interest to See and Shape the Future  
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita 10/15/09
Iran, Iraq, Israel, and North Korea--all are rational players, acting in their own self-interest as they perceive it, and with game theory we can predict what they and other players will do next.

When Your Island Sinks  
10/09/09
By 2050 some estimate that climate change will displace 150 million people, but the displaced won't qualify as refugees under international law. This short video asks: What should be done about relocation?

Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil  
Peter Maass 10/07/09
From Ecuador to Nigeria, in most oil-producing countries oil has not brought any benefits to the poor and has often damaged people's health and ruined the environment, says Peter Maass. As for Iraq, although the war was not "all about oil," oil certainly played an important role.

This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly  
Carmen M. Reinhart, Kenneth S. Rogoff 10/07/09
Financial crises are not random events, say Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff. Looking at the the data on boom and bust cycles that have occurred over the past 800 years, a clear pattern emerges. Why can't we learn from history?

Whose Art Is It?  
10/02/09
Should cultural treasures, acquired under dubious circumstances, be returned to their places of origin?

Losing the News: The Future of the News That Feeds Democracy  
Alex S. Jones 09/30/09
"Internet culture values speed over accuracy, edge over fairness and balance, and above all, entertainment value above importance and significance. We can be overfed but undernourished in terms of news, and that's what's happening as newspapers scramble to stay in business."

Oceans, Garbage, and Food  
09/25/09
Can we regulate international space like the oceans? Pollution and illegal or unregulated fishing plague international waters. How can the problem be managed to maintain the health and beauty of our seas?

U.S.-Iran Relations After the Iranian Election  
Thomas R. Pickering 09/23/09
How should the United States proceed in its relations with Iran during this turbulent time—and beyond? Should we launch direct, high-level talks between a U.S. envoy and a significant player, or continue on the same course?

Climate Protectionism and Competitiveness  
09/18/09
The global circulation of goods is a major source of both prosperity and carbon emissions. This short video on ethics asks: Can trade be regulated to maximize development and reduce environmental harm?

Who Pays for Global Warming?  
09/16/09
This short video on ethics asks: Who pays to stop global warming? How to allocate emissions allowances? If people are entitled to an equal share of the world's resources, should national allowances be allocated on a per capita basis? How about the billionaire in India who pollutes more than a poor person in urban Paris?

The Fall and Rise of the Islamic State  
Noah Feldman 09/16/09
In the West the idea of governance by Sharia law is radioactive, says Noah Feldman, yet for many in the Muslim world it represents their aspirations for rule of law. Can Islamic States succeed?

Restoring Trust in the Global Financial System  
Thomas Donaldson, Neal Flieger, Stephen Jordan, Seamus McMahon, Christian Menegatti 09/09/09
This Workshop for Ethics in Business panel analyzes the growing lack of trust in the financial system and how it threatens to keep the global economy in the doldrums. What are the ways to best restore that trust?

Forest Preservation  
09/04/09
How do we put value on the forests as an indispensable element of our survival? Can we balance market mechanisms with regulations and consumption with sustainability?

The New Asian Hemisphere: The Irresistible Shift of Global Power to the East  
Kishore Mahbubani 09/02/09
Kishore Mahbubani argues that the Western dominance is waning and Asia has adopted many Western best practices, from meritocracy to free-market economics. Therefore it's high time that the West gives up its domination of global institutions, from the IMF to the UN Security Council.

Ecological Intervention  
08/28/09
Do states have a responsibility to protect the planet? If so, who would decide when environmental protection is a legitimate reason to interfere in the affairs of another state?

Prospects for U.S.-Russia Relations  
H.E. Mr. Sergey Kislyak 08/26/09
Russian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Kislyak's comprehensive talk includes his thoughts on U.S.-Russia relations, nuclear proliferation, and Russia today. He also gives us the Russian perspective on the conflict with Georgia.

Global Migration: Open the Doors or Build the Walls?  
08/21/09
Do immigrants help or hurt America? Closed borders cut off the world's best and brightest, while open borders may invite the world's desperate, criminal, and crazy. Should we err on the side of opening doors or building walls?

Climate Change and New Security Issues  
H.E. Dr. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland 08/19/09
H.E. Dr. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland, discusses how Iceland has successfully reduced its use of oil and coal, and how the fate of nations large and small is being affected by climate change.

Dealing with Dictators: North Korea  
08/14/09
Should you ever deal with dictators? Two American journalists held hostage in North Korea were released as a result of Bill Clinton's recent meeting with Kim Jong-il. Did the positive outcome justify lending credibility to one of the world's worst regimes?

A Conversation with David Hamburg: The Commitment to Prevention  
David A. Hamburg, David C. Speedie 08/12/09
David Speedie interviews David Hamburg on the prevention agenda of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and its legacy of preventing interstate conflict, genocide, and threats to global health.

The Garden, Veggies, and Ethics  
08/07/09
If you don't know the roots under a farmers' market or a colleague's produce, should you trust the food you get from them? How does the joy of growing and giving fresh vegetables weigh against potential soil hazards? Does even a carrot require an ethical choice?

The Cuba Wars: Fidel Castro, the United States, and the Next Revolution  
Daniel P. Erikson 08/05/09
With the exit of Castro and the entrance of Obama, both the Cuban system and U.S.-Cuba relations could be on the brink of a new era. What will happen next?      

Markets or Regulations, Is That the Question?  
07/31/09
Should government supplement markets to increase the public good? Should it regulate markets to protect the public good? How much is too much regulation?

North Korea: What Next?  
Victor D. Cha 07/29/09
There are no good options in negotiations with North Korea, says Bush's top advisor on North Korean affairs, Victor Cha. It's always a choice between a bad option and a worse one.

The Missing Ingredient: Applied Ethics  
07/24/09
Policies are often debated along three dimensions: effectiveness, efficiency, and expediency. In place of a fourth dimension—applied ethics—we usually find sensationalism and polarization. Can public discourse rise above shouting?

EIA Interview: Alex Bellamy on the Responsibility to Protect  
Alex J. Bellamy, John Tessitore 07/22/09
"This is just the beginning of the road for R2P," says Bellamy. "There are a lot of skeptics...but it is a principle that has commanded the support of 192 governments, and that creates a tremendous political impetus."

Self-determination and Ethnic Cleansing  
07/17/09
Modern self-determination and the concept of nationality are closely linked, and have frequently led to instances of ethnic cleansing. Can nationalism and multi-ethnic societies co-exist? Must self-determination imply ethnic cleansing?

Forced to Labor: The Cost of Coercion  
Robert Moossy, Roger Plant, Maria Suarez 07/15/09
The Carnegie Council and the International Labour Organization (ILO) present a unique look at modern slavery from the personal, policy, and enforcement perspectives, to shed light on an insidious practice that has become part of today's labor markets.

Military Intervention and Democracy?  
07/10/09
Is it ever ethical to violate a democratic constitution? If the rationale for military intervention is to save democracy, does that make it legitimate?

Imagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation  
Nandan Nilekani 07/08/09
Nandan Nilekani argues that India's recent economic boom has triggered tremendous social, political, and cultural change. He discusses India's challenges and advantages, such as its current "demographic dividend"--a large population of working age.

Why Is Health Care So Difficult?  
07/03/09
Why can't the U.S. negotiate a domestic solution to health care? Individuals are certainly responsible for their health. A wealthy society can also be responsible for its members. Is health care a primary right, or a personal responsibility?

Pillars of Ethics  
Joel H. Rosenthal, William C. Vocke Jr., Madeleine Lynn 07/01/09
Carnegie Council president Joel Rosenthal discusses three pillars of ethics--pluralism, rights and responsibilities, and fairness--with Council staff members Madeleine Lynn and William Vocke.

France and Burqas  
06/26/09
French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently declared that burqas are not welcome in France. To some, the burqa represents the suppression of women. Yet many Muslim women embrace it. Should states have control over what people wear?

Jeffrey McCausland Interviews Thomas Ricks  
Jeffrey D. McCausland, Thomas E. Ricks 06/24/09
Carnegie Council Senior Fellow Jeffrey McCausland talks to Thomas Ricks about his latest book, "The Gamble: General Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008."

When Are Elections Legitimate?  
06/19/09
When are elections legitimate? What about Iran? Elections assume that losers accept results. Because many disagree, can they overturn an election? Should we believe authorities that declare elections valid?

EIA Interview: Simon Dalby on Environmental Security  
Simon Dalby, John Tessitore 06/17/09
"Peace-building is literally about building now," says Dalby. "It's about constructing buildings that don't need large quantities of energy, both because of climate change and so that they are not dependent on supplies from the other side of the planet."

Pillars of Choice: Fairness  
06/12/09
Fairness is a universal concept, but its application depends on time and place. The three pillars of ethical choice—pluralism, rights and responsibilities, and fairness—are thus codependent, and balancing them demands dialogue among people.

Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet  
Jeffrey D. Sachs 06/10/09
Economist Jeffrey Sachs focuses on the financial crisis, both in the U.S. and worldwide. He concludes that we should look at it as a wakeup call that we were not on a sustainable path, and as an opportunity to invest in the future.

Pillars of Choice: Rights and Responsibilities  
06/05/09
Balancing rights and responsibilities is one of the pillars supporting ethical choice. How far do our rights extend? Do responsibilities diminish our entitlements?

Green Jobs  
Heather Grady, Norine Kennedy, Jill Kubit, Peter Poschen, Michael Renner, Devin T. Stewart, Sean Sweeney 06/03/09
A panel including Peter Poschen, International Labour Organization and Michael Renner, Worldwatch Institute, discusses the new report "Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World."

Pillars of Choice: Pluralism  
05/29/09
How do we celebrate differences without falling into the trap of cultural relativism?

The Powers to Lead  
Joseph S. Nye, Jr. 05/27/09
What qualities make a leader succeed in business or in politics? Joseph Nye contends that modern leadership requires "smart power," which is a judicious situational balance of hard power and soft power.

How Do We Know When We've Been Bad?  
05/22/09
To become ethical, must behavior be grounded in a religious faith or other system of belief? How do we judge the behavior of states and people?

The Rise of the Rest II: How the Ascent of Russia and China Affects Global Business and Security  
Nikolas K. Gvosdev, Harry Harding, Flynt Leverett, David C. Speedie, Devin T. Stewart 05/20/09
From economic growth to cultural exports, the global distribution of power is shifting from "the West" to the rest of the world. This panel addresses the effects of this emerging new reality, many of which are already underway.

Is the Free Market Central to America's Future?  
05/15/09
New York is no longer viewed as the financial capital of the world, or even of the United States. Given the recent government intervention in states' economies, will the free-market model be able to compete?

The Crisis of American Foreign Policy: Wilsonianism in the Twenty-First Century  
Anne-Marie Slaughter 05/14/09
Was George W. Bush the true heir of Woodrow Wilson, the architect of liberal internationalism? Was the Iraq War a result of liberal ideas about America's right to promote democracy abroad?

The Health Legacy of Nuclear Test Veterans  
05/08/09
Participants in Britain's nuclear weapons testing program argued recently that health was damaged by radiation. Who is responsible? Should compensation be a legal matter or a moral one?

Ethical Issues in U.S.-Asia Policy: Devin Stewart Interviews Chong-Pin Lin  
Chong-Pin Lin, Devin T. Stewart 05/06/09
Dr. Lin discusses Taiwan's political situation; relations with China; climate change; the future of democracy in East Asia; what Obama's presidency may mean for the region; and the surprising "detente" between China and Japan.

Jumping Parties: Principles or Pragmatism?  
05/01/09
Senator Specter is now a Democrat. Was his decision to switch parties principled, pragmatic, or just expedient?

A Special Appeal from Senior Fellow William Vocke  
William C. Vocke Jr. 05/01/09
Last year we filmed over 70 events and made them freely available in various formats on our website, on iTunes, and on YouTube. But reaching out digitally is expensive. Please give a donation today by going to cceia.org. Thank you.

Top Risks and Ethical Decisions 2009  
Ian Bremmer, Art Kleiner, Michele Wucker, Thomas Stewart 04/29/09
What dangers are lurking for 2009? Taking Eurasia Group's list of Top Risks as a starting point, this lively discussion examines the ethical aspects of these issues.

For Torture, Who Should We Prosecute?  
04/24/09
Torture is wrong. So who is culpable? The point people? The memo writers? The overseers? No one? Everyone?

Iran and the United States: David Speedie Interviews Gary Sick  
Gary Sick, David C. Speedie 04/22/09
The Bush administration has been toying with the idea of talking to Iran for the last two years. With the arrival of Obama, now the question is not "should we," but how do we go about doing it?

International Aid: Does Help Hurt?  
04/17/09
According to Dambisa Moyo, large foreign aid flows to Africa disenfranchise Africans and prop up corrupt African leaders. If we follow Moyo's advice and cut off aid, what happens to the millions whose survival depends on it?

The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World  
Niall Ferguson 04/15/09
Does the symbiotic relationship between China and America--"Chimerica" as Niall Ferguson calls it--give reason to hope that America's present economic situation will turn out to be not a crash, but a correction?