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

NOV 21, 2024 Article

A New International Order Is Emerging, We Must Bring Our Principles With Us

On the heels of a new international order, Carnegie Council will continue to champion the vision of peace and cooperation that remains our mission.

OCT 22, 2024 Video

Ethical Leadership in International Affairs

In this message for Global Ethics Day 2024, Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal shares his thoughts on ethical leadership and the role that ethics must play ...

OCT 16, 2024 Video

Empowering Next-Gen Civic Leaders

The keynote event for Global Ethics Day 2024 featured a panel discussion on how we might enhance youth participation and intergenerational collaboration in civic life.

OCT 7, 2024 Video

Science Summit at UNGA79: Brain Economy Paradigm Shift for Democratic Renewal

As part of the 2024 UN Science Summit at the 79th UNGA, Joel Rosenthal discussed how democratic systems can prosper in the age of technological acceleration.

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 and UNU-CPR hosted a special event exploring the implications of AI for the multilateral ...

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?