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
MAR 11, 2009 • Podcast
Political Futures Mar 09 Segment 5: The Fat Tail (8:51 mins)
How can the economic impact of political instabilities be predicted and managed? How well positioned is the United States to deal with shocks?
MAR 10, 2009 • Podcast
Political Futures Mar 09 Segment 2: Obama (7:16 mins)
How is President Obama managing the country in an environment of fear and anger caused by the economic crisis?
MAR 10, 2009 • Podcast
Ann Florini on Global Governance
Florini discusses the difference between "global government" and "global governance," intergovernmental organizations such as the UN, and the role and achievements of civil society and ...
FEB 27, 2009 • Podcast
The Dictator's Shadow: Life Under Augusto Pinochet
In his first-hand account of the brutal Pinochet years and their aftermath, H.E. Mr. Heraldo Muñoz asks, "The agonizing question is: Was Pinochet ...
FEB 18, 2009 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: The New Ethic of Public Diplomacy
With President Obama's choice for under secretary of public diplomacy still unknown, it's hard to gauge where strategic communications are headed. But in the era ...
JAN 27, 2009 • Podcast
The Crisis of American Foreign Policy: Wilsonianism in the Twenty-First Century
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 ...
DEC 16, 2008 • Podcast
Devin Stewart Interviews Seth Kaplan on "Fixing Fragile States"
Seth Kaplan looks at how weak states can promote and leverage "social cohesion" to help build development from the bottom up.
DEC 10, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Germany Moves from Atoms to Photons
Predictions that Germany will be left dangling in the wind once its nuclear power plants are shut down may be premature. Pro-renewables policies have thus ...
DEC 4, 2008 • Podcast
How East Asians View Democracy
Nathan and Chu report on surveys in five new democracies (Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Mongolia), one established one (Japan), and two nondemocracies (China ...
DEC 1, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Testing Democracy in South Africa
The sudden emergence of a challenger to the electoral dominance of the African National Congress could put stress on South Africa's young democracy.