Joel H. Rosenthal

President, Carnegie Council

Joel H. Rosenthal is president of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. As a nonprofit leader, scholar, and teacher he works to empower ethical action, with a particular focus on U.S. foreign policy, issues of war and peace, human rights, and pluralism. At Carnegie Council, Rosenthal leads a team that identifies critical ethical issues, convenes experts, and produces agenda-setting resources to educate and activate communities globally.

Rosenthal is editor-in-chief of the Ethics & International Affairs journal published by Cambridge University Press. His first book Righteous Realists is an examination of the political realists who shaped post-WWII America in the nuclear age, including Hans Morgenthau, Reinhold Niebuhr, and George Kennan. His current writing and commentary can be found at the President’s Desk.

Rosenthal is the recipient of numerous awards including the Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Studies Association for his lifetime achievement in international studies and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Social Science from the University of Edinburgh. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University and BA from Harvard University.

Featured Work

CREDIT: Abobe/hamara.

SEP 25, 2024 Article

Politico Op-Ed: Walking a Fraying Nuclear Tightrope

In a new op-ed, Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal argues that a recommitment to nuclear arms control is nothing short of a moral imperative.

Left to Right: Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, Ambassador Chola Milambo, Ambassador Anna Karin Eneström, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Vilas Dhar. CREDIT: Bryan Goldberg.

SEP 19, 2024 Video

Unlocking Cooperation: AI for All

On the eve of the Summit of the Future, Carnegie Council & UNU-CPR hosted a special event exploring the implications of AI for the multilateral system.

Left to Right: Eddie Mandhry, Abiodun Williams, Joel Rosenthal. CREDIT: Juhi Desai.

JUL 23, 2024 Video

Global Leadership in a Turbulent Time: A Conversation with Professor Abiodun Williams

In this roundtable discussion, Tufts University's Professor Abiodun Williams speaks about the essential leadership traits needed to drive institutional change.

Left to Right: Ramu Damodaran, Barbra Lukunka, Ambassador Ali Naseer Mohammed, Scott Pohl. CREDIT: Juhi Desai.

JUN 25, 2024 Video

Unlocking Cooperation: Climate Change and Human Mobility

On World Refugee Day, Carnegie Council hosted a discussion on enhancing multilateral cooperation at the intersection of climate change and human mobility.

MAY 24, 2024 Video

Kent Executive Training Seminar in Conflict Resolution 2024, Panel 7: Technology and Ethics

On May 24, 2024, Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal served an as expert panelist for a special event hosted by the Kent Global Leadership Program on Conflict ...

APR 9, 2024 Video

Algorithms of War: The Use of AI in Armed Conflict

From Gaza to Ukraine, the military applications of AI are fundamentally reshaping the ethics of war. How should policymakers navigate AI’s inherent trade-offs?

Left to Right: Ramu Damodaran, Dima Al-Khatib, Archie Young, Fernando Marani. March 27, 2024.

MAR 28, 2024 Video

Unlocking Cooperation: The Global South and Global North

In the inaugural panel of the "Unlocking Cooperation" series, Ramu Damodaran leads a discussion on forging a path forward for Global South/North collaboration.

FEB 27, 2024 Video

A Carnegie Council Conversation with the UK Home Secretary

In this speech, the UK Home Secretary outlined the range of opportunities and challenges faced by countries as a consequence of migration.

FEB 15, 2024 Video

Charles W. Kegley, Jr. Lecture Series: A Place for Ethics in World Politics

In the inaugural Charles W. Kegley, Jr. Lecture, Stephen Hibbard, former chair of Carnegie Council, discusses "A Place for Ethics in World Politics."

FEB 5, 2024 Podcast

Human Rights, Security, & the Helsinki Legacy: A Discussion with Peter Osnos

This Carnegie Council special event features a roundtable conversation with author Peter Osnos on human rights, security, and the legacy of the Helsinki Accords.