Framing ethical perspectives
Applied ethics refers to the practical applications of the moral principles that govern behavior. Carnegie Council focuses on this field, mostly through the realm of international affairs, by identifying and addressing the most critical ethical issues of today and tomorrow. Our initiatives, content, and experts analyze the way that governments, institutions, and individuals interact and make choices on global issues, such as climate change, emerging technology, and governance.
Featured Applied Ethics Resources
Practical conversations, decision analysis, and more
MAR 13, 2026 • Video
Character and Leadership: A Conversation with Lt. General (ret.) Mark Hertling
FEB 20, 2026 • Podcast
Keeping it Real(ism), with Assoc. Professor Paul Poast
With realism having a political moment, Paul Poast discusses the intellectual roots of the theory and how it's being applied in U.S. foreign policy.
DEC 11, 2025 • Video
Re-examining our Capacity for Just Peace
Watch this discussion featuring distinguished experts reflecting on the state of war in 2025 and the obstacles to achieving just peace.
Related Initiatives
Carnegie Ethics Accelerator
The Carnegie Ethics Accelerator is a new kind of incubator designed to empower ethics in the face of swiftly evolving challenges in technology and public policies.
Ethics & International Affairs Journal
Ethics & International Affairs is the quarterly journal of Carnegie Council. It aims to close the gap between the theory and practice of ethics.
Carnegie Ethics Fellows
The Carnegie Ethics Fellows program (CEF) seeks to cultivate the next generation of ethical global leaders across business, policy, technology, NGOs, and academia.
Explore Our Applied Ethics Resources
JUN 5, 1997 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 9 (Summer 1997): Innovative Human Rights Strategies in East Asia: Articles: Awarding Korean Companies for Social Responsibility
KEJI rewards companies after being evaluated for their ethical performance as large Korean corporations in hopes that, as Chun Byung-Hwa points out, can be used ...
MAY 25, 1997 • Article
Morgenthau Lecture: Human Rights and Asian Values
In this valuable 1997 lecture, Amartya Sen points to intellectual strands within Asian thought that value human rights.
MAR 5, 1997 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 8 (Spring 1997): Transitional Justice in East Asia and its Impact on Human Rights: Articles: Human Rights and the Cambodian Past: In Defense of Peace Before Justice
Kassie Neou and Jeffrey C. Gallup detail how the transitional government has handled the human rights abuses of the past, particularly the Khmer Rouge and ...
MAR 5, 1997 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 8 (Spring 1997): Transitional Justice in East Asia and its Impact on Human Rights: Articles: A Reassessment of Peace and Justice in Cambodia
His Excellency Kem Sokha discusses transitional justice, as he focuses on the greatest violator of human rights in Cambodian history: the infamous Khmer Rouge.
DEC 5, 1996 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 7 (Winter 1996): New Issues in East Asian Human Rights - A Conference Report: Articles: Balancing Rights, Duties, and Underlying Values
In their reluctance to unconditionally embrace rights language and logic, some participants turned to the concepts of duty and responsibility, which are commonly believed to ...
DEC 5, 1996 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 7 (Winter 1996): New Issues in East Asian Human Rights - A Conference Report: Articles: Identity, Recognition, and Group Rights
The threat of either homogenization or "forced multiculturalism" posed by globalization has fueled crises of identity, the politics of difference, and struggles for recognition. Indigenous ...
NOV 6, 1996 • Article
Nizer Lectures (1994–1998): Ethical Issues for Today
What is the difference between ethics and law? Unlike the law, ethics involves other people, says Elie Wiesel, in this powerful, moving, and wide-ranging talk ...
SEP 5, 1996 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 6 (Fall 1996): The Human Rights Discourse in East Asia: Reports from the Region: Articles: MALAYSIA
Examined are Two Faces: Detention Without Trial; "Why the EIA of the Bakun Project is Invalid;" "Kenapa EIA Projek Hiro Elektrik Bakun Tidak Sah," ...
SEP 5, 1996 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 6 (Fall 1996): The Human Rights Discourse in East Asia: Reports from the Region: Articles: INDONESIA
These works approach human rights violations more theoretically: Why Are We Suing?; Shadows of the Indonesian Communist Party; The World Bank and Human Rights in ...
SEP 5, 1996 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 6 (Fall 1996): The Human Rights Discourse in East Asia: Reports from the Region: Articles: THE PHILIPPINES
Works discussed are A Distant Peace; Philippines: The Killing Goes On; Resistance 3: Torment and Struggle After Marcos; Issues and Concerns of Overseas Filipinos: An Assessment ...