Framing ethical perspectives
Democracy is a form of government in which political control is given to the people, whether directly or through the election of governing officials. Currently, large numbers of people have lost faith in this form of government and some elected officials have been working to dismantle democratic institutions. Our programs, events, and experts strive to better understand this development.
Featured Democracy Resources
State of global democracy, U.S. global engagement, and more
FEB 6, 2026 • Article
Trump and the Gaslighting of American Realism
APR 9, 2026 • Article
Realism vs. Pragmatism: Understanding America’s New Rhetorical Landscape
Amid Trump's fiery rhetoric and debates over "realism," Professor Jason Ralph writes that "pragmatism" may offer a better alternative for the American public.
SEP 11, 2025 • Video
Post-Liberal American Power
In the first event in our "Values & Interests" series, an expert panel examines the question: Has Trump 2.0 ushered in an era of post-liberal American power?
Related Initiatives
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.
Explore Our Democracy Resources
OCT 28, 2021 • Podcast
The Doorstep: The Evangelical Right Takes Latin America, with Francisco de Santibañes
It's election season in the U.S. and around the world. Wilson Center's Francisco de Santibañes joins Doorstep co-hosts Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin ...
OCT 21, 2021 • Podcast
Global Ethics Day Special Event: On the Frontlines of Democracy
Whether it's rigging elections in Hong Kong, arresting activists in Venezuela, restricting voting access in the U.S., silencing the opposition in Belarus, or censorship ...
SEP 7, 2021 • Podcast
Protests in Perspective: Racial Justice & Democracy in 2021, with Adom Getachew
One year after the global protests in response to the murder of George Floyd, where are we in terms of racial justice? In this podcast, ...
AUG 5, 2021 • Podcast
The Doorstep: How Shipping Can Help Reenergize Globalization, with BIMCO's Peter Sand
BIMCO shipping analyst Peter Sand joins Carnegie Council Senior Fellows Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin to discuss how the effects of the pandemic on shipping--container ...
JUL 23, 2021 • Podcast
The Doorstep: Biden's India Strategy, with Dhruva Jaishankar
The U.S.-India relationship is a central part of the Biden-Harris administration focus on the Indo-Pacific region. Ahead of U.S. Secretary of State ...
JUN 15, 2021 • Podcast
Rethinking American Grand Strategy, with Christopher McKnight Nichols
What is grand strategy? What differentiates it from normal strategic thought? What, in other words, makes it "grand"? In answering these questions, most scholars have ...
JUN 9, 2021 • Podcast
Illiberal Democracy on the Rise: Examining Brazil, Hungary, & India
The post-World War II liberal order faces unprecedented upheaval as countries and their leaders retreat from globalism, embrace nationalism, and attack democratic norms. Whether it’...
JUN 4, 2021 • Podcast
The Doorstep: Press Freedom & Foreign Policy Panel, with Stephen J. Adler & Carlos Martínez de la Serna
Advocating for press freedom around the globe has long been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. The Trump administration changed the rules, but what ...
JUN 2, 2021 • Article
Narrowing Hearts and Minds: Diagnosing the Global Rise of Illiberal Democracy
From Hungary to India to Brazil to the United States, there is no doubt that illiberalism is on the rise, writes Joel Rosenthal, president of ...
MAY 7, 2021 • Podcast
The Doorstep: What Does Biden's "Omnipolicy" Mean for the U.S.? with Politico's Nahal Toosi
Nahal Toosi, foreign policy and national security writer at "Politico," returns to speak with Carnegie Council Senior Fellows Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin about how ...