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.
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Featured Work
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?
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.
OCT 18, 2023 • Video
Unlocking Cooperation: A Global Ethics Day Special Event
In this keynote event for Global Ethics Day 2023, Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal led a conversation on the psychology behind cooperation; ways that states, institutions, ...
OCT 11, 2023 • Article
Terror Attacks in Israel: A Complete Rout of Ethical Principles
Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal condemns Hamas' shocking terror attacks in Israel. What are we to make of such a complete rout of ethical principles?
OCT 6, 2023 • Video
Cities at the Forefront of the Climate Crisis: The Ethics of Urban Decarbonization and Climate Resilience
This in-depth panel discussion looks at how to address urban-specific climate challenges in an ethical manner. What are the latest climate policy innovations for cities?