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
JUL 28, 2020 • Article
We The People: Democracy in 2020
Mass protests have erupted around the world over the brutal killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Carnegie New Leader Rachel Baranowski argues ...
JUL 27, 2020 • Podcast
Human Security is National Security in a Time of Pandemic, with Derek Reveron
Professor Derek Reveron, chair of the U.S. Naval War College's National Security Affairs Department, discusses how subnational and transnational forces--namely, the COVID-19 pandemic--intersect with ...
JUL 15, 2020 • Article
The Persistence of the Trump Narrative
Senior Fellow Nikolas Gvosdev reiterates the point that U.S. foreign policy will not snap back to its pre-Trump state, no matter who is in ...
JUL 15, 2020 • Podcast
Immigration & the Black Lives Matter Protests, with Kavitha Rajagopalan
How have conversations in the immigration rights community shifted since this round of Black Lives Matters protests started? In this new environment, what are some ...
JUL 7, 2020 • Transcript
Civil Society & Social Movements: A Conversation with Patrick Gaspard
Patrick Gaspard, president of Open Society Foundations, discusses the role of young people and civil society in this historic summer in the United States in ...
JUL 1, 2020 • Article
Where Do Human Rights Fit In? Policy Narratives Re-examined
Senior Fellow Nikolas Gvosdev discusses Nahal Toosi's recent "Politico" article about a subtle but major shift in the international landscape: human rights groups focusing on ...
JUN 24, 2020 • Podcast
"Remain in Mexico" & Immigration Policy in 2020, with Molly O'Toole
Molly O'Toole, immigration and security reporter at the "Los Angeles Times," discusses Trump's "Remain in Mexico" asylum policy and its many ethical and legal issues. ...
JUN 15, 2020 • Podcast
The Ethics of the Coronavirus Lockdown, with Christian Barry
Due to COVID-19, significant restrictions have been placed on freedoms to move about in many nations. Philosopher Christian Barry explores how the costs of these ...
MAY 26, 2020 • Article
TIGRE: The Missing Link? Operationalizing the Democratic Community Narrative
Does the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as renewed concerns about overdependence on China, create an opening for the United States to move forward on decoupling ...
MAY 12, 2020 • Podcast
Great Power Populism, COVID-19, & Missing Leadership, with Damjan Krnjević Mišković & Nikolas Gvosdev
What is "great power populism" and what does it mean during the pandemic? Are we heading towards another global conflict? And are there any leaders ...