Carnegie Council Podcasts
by Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
Listen, learn, and reflect on the most critical issues at the intersection of ethics and international affairs. Subscribe for access to the latest interviews, events, and audio articles from Carnegie Council's global community.
Episodes
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Carnegie Ethics Fellows Symposium 2026
Over two years, our Carnegie Ethics Fellows have been meeting with professionals across the international affairs field to learn about ethical decision-making, develop their capabilities, and become examples of values-driven responsible leadership. The Fellows have also been working on group...
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Re-centering Ethics: Finding a Path Forward in a Fragmented World
How does ethics shape the way we understand and respond to the defining challenges of our time? For Global Ethics Day 2026, experts from across disciplines convened to examine what it means to re-center ethics in a fragmented and rapidly changing world at Carnegie Council's flagship event…
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Cooperation Against All Odds: Transnational Networks and the Future of Global Order
How do we explain breakthroughs in international cooperation that seem to defy the odds, especially during periods of great power competition and geopolitical tension? The answer centers on social power: the capacity of transnational networks—groups of individuals who transcend national…
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State Sovereignty in the Age of AI
AI is having a seismic impact on how states interact with each other. As the frontier AI labs of the U.S. and China drive innovation forward, dominate compute capabilities, and seek to control critical supply chains, smaller states are facing new challenges to their own sovereignty. What...
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Multilateralism By and For the People
People are rapidly losing faith in multilateral institutions. Heela Rasool-Ayub, co-director of the Power, People, and Planet Initiative at New America, joined "Values & Interests" to discuss potential pathways toward a more inclusive and responsive international system. Drawing upon her family's...
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Cooperation as a Source of Power
Can cooperation remain a source of influence in an era of growing competition? Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Bulgaria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, joined "Values & Interests" during the week of the UN General Assembly to explore the nature of power in international affairs and the importance of...
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Listening to Conflict: Human Experience of War
As new technologies transform the way wars are fought, the ethical and humanitarian stakes of armed conflict continue to evolve. With the rise of cyber and hybrid warfare, as well as the development of lethal autonomous weapons systems, what has been lost in ethical thinking about war as it moves...
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A New Breed of American Oligarch
How has private wealth accumulation by a select few undermined both U.S. democracy and global security? Author and journalist Casey Michel joins "Values & Interests" to discuss his book, "United States of Oligarchy." Drawing on Aristotle's definition of oligarchy and the legacy of the Gilded Age,...
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Democracy as a Moral Principle
Freedom House CEO Jamie Fly and Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal interrogate why democracy is both a moral and a political principle, the regression of freedom globally, and the effects of emerging tech on political processes and institutions. What can be done to counter the rise of...
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Ethics on Film: Discussion of "The Brink of War"
In this "Ethical Article," Kathleen Egan reviews Michael Russell Gunn's "The Brink of War." She discusses issues related to nuclear ethics in the film, which depicts the 1986 Reykjavik Summit between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. To read this article, please go...
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Preparing Ethical Leaders in a Fragmented World
What does ethical leadership require in an era of polarization, institutional distrust, and geopolitical upheaval? In this episode of "Values & Interests," Kevin Maloney speaks with Noah Bopp, founder of The School for Ethics and Global Leadership, about educating the next generation for public...
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The Myth of AI Inevitability
Artificial intelligence is increasingly framed as an unstoppable force that will reshape economies, societies, and even human civilization. But what if that narrative is part of the problem? In this episode of "Values & Interests," Virginia Dignum, professor of responsible artificial intelligence...
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Soft Power in an Era of Nationalism
What makes power endure? University of Bonn's Hendrik W. Ohnesorge explores the relationship between influence, values, and international leadership, arguing that attraction and legitimacy often outlast coercion and force. Drawing on examples from classical antiquity, literature, and modern...
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Hubris and the Fog of War: Unpacking the U.S.-Iran Conflict
Iran and the United States have been adversaries for decades. But caught in the middle are the 92 million Iranians with "90 million opinions" on their government, foreign intervention, and state of their society. In this episode of "Values & Interests," Neda Bolourchi, senior non-resident fellow…
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Democracy in Retreat
In the last twenty years rights and liberties have eroded across more of the world than they have advanced. The cumulative effect is a transformed international order in which authoritarian governments are more assertive and the democracies that shaped the postwar system are at risk of…
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Nuclear Ethics
We are walking a fraying nuclear tightrope. Russia, China, and the U.S. are expanding their nuclear capabilities; extended deterrence is strained to the breaking point; and proliferation among middle and smaller powers appears inevitable. But as history has clearly shown, the catastrophic...
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Practicing Strategic Empathy and Navigating Competing Values
In a world experiencing a seismic shift in the values and principles that guide geopolitics, how can we practice strategic empathy without succumbing to moral relativism? Brian Wong, assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Hong Kong, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to…
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Building Moral and Professional Resilience
Gilles Michaud, UN under-secretary-general for safety and security, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to examine the moral and political challenges facing UN personnel in some of the world's most difficult security environments. Drawing on a multi-decade career at the intersection of law...
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U.S. Power and Principle
America's post–World War II calculus guiding the relationship between power and principle has shifted dramatically. The result is a moment in which U.S. leaders may no longer be asking a vital question at the intersection of ethics and international relations: power, but to what end? In this...
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The Ethics of AI Agents in Global Governance
The adoption of AI agents is expanding rapidly, particularly within multilateral and diplomatic spaces. Such integration presents a myriad of new ethical questions and challenges for both the practitioners of today and next-gen leaders. In this "Ethics Empowered: Leadership in Practice" event,...
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Geopolitics in a Fracturing World, with Aarathi Krishnan
In a fracturing world awash with belligerent rhetoric, where are the real geopolitical pressure points and what forces are driving them? Aarathi Krishnan, CEO of Raksha Intelligence Futures, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to pull back the curtain on the political, economic, and...
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The Gaslighting of America, with Professor Mathias Risse
What is fueling the post-truth era in American politics, and why is it working? Professor Mathias Risse of the Harvard Kennedy School argues that "gaslighting"—"persuasion through systematic besmirching, belittling, and the inversion of shared norms"—has become a dominant rhetorical force in...
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Ethics on Film: Discussion of "One Battle After Another"
In this "Ethical Article," Alex Woodson reviews Paul Thomas Anderson's Oscar-winning film "One Battle After Another." He discusses gender roles, white supremacy, and the motivations of revolutionaries. To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-on-film-one-battle
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Amoral American Power, with Professor Matias Spektor
For decades, America couched its foreign policy not only in the language of interests, but in universal values such as freedom and human rights. But what happens when that moral framing of liberal values falls away? From the streets of Caracas to the skies over Tehran, U.S. power is no longer...
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Why Space Matters and How to Govern It
Since the establishment of the Outer Space Treaty in 1967, space has been understood to be a "global commons" in which no country has sovereignty. But today, with over 90 countries and dozens of private companies operating in space—with the backdrop of a challenging and dangerous geopolitical...
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Keeping it Real(ism), with Assoc. Professor Paul Poast
Realism—the international relations theory centered on power, national interests, and anarchy—is having a political moment. From the halls of the Munich Security Conference to the pages of the U.S. National Security Strategy, "realism" has taken center stage in debates about U.S. foreign policy....
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A Moral Rupture
As moral relativists try to sanitize Trump's transgressive policies, Canada's Prime Minister Carney warns, "We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition." Listen to Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal in this "Ethical Article." To read this article, pleae go to:...
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Embracing Empathy and Responsible Power, with Dr. Claire Yorke
Are power and empathy incompatible? Dr. Claire Yorke joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to discuss her new book, "Empathy in Politics and Leadership." Yorke showcases real-life examples of leaders who embraced empathy to build more inclusive power structures while simultaneously avoiding the...
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The Ethics of Decision-Making in National Security, with Avril D. Haines
Avril D. Haines, former director of national intelligence, visited Carnegie Council in October to deliver the Second Charles W. Kegley, Jr. Annual Lecture, titled "The Ethics of Decision-Making in National Security." Reflecting on her distinguished career in public service, Director Haines shared...
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Re-examining our Capacity for Just Peace
For decades, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs has rigorously explored the tension between perpetual conflict and the value of human life. While debates on war and peace are far from novel, the importance of achieving just peace is heightened today by current regional wars,...
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Geopolitics in an Era of AGI
The international system of the past 80 years was constructed around the principles of sovereignty and self-determination. These pillars of geopolitics now must contend with and adapt to the accelerating adoption and use of AI, both by international actors and the public. This disruption will…
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The Principle of Pragmatic Idealism, with Björn Holmberg
What are the political and human risks of a world increasingly defined by transactional politics and national interests? Björn Holmberg, executive director of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to discuss the power of pragmatic idealism across international...
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Addressing Climate Migration & Considerations for the Future
Rising global temperatures and a shift in climate patterns have rapidly increased the number of climate migrants. As the world faces these new geopolitical challenges, how can nations collaborate to ensure the rights of people moving due to climate change? This panel discussion, part of the…
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Misinformation and the Global Manosphere, with Odanga Madung
How is the information landscape contributing to democratic backsliding around the world? Kenyan journalist and researcher Odanga Madung joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to discuss the corrosive effects of misinformation and disinformation on open societies, the rise of manosphere…
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Ethics on Film: Discussion of "A House of Dynamite"
In this "Ethical Article" Kathleen Egan reviews the new Netflix film "A House of Dynamite." She discusses the many ethical decisions facing leaders when a nuclear missile is launched at the United States. To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-on-film-dynamite
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Re-envisioning Humanitarianism for a Changing World
For those dedicated to humanitarianism, 2025 marks an inflection point, one that requires us to grapple with the question: How might we re-envision humanitarian aid? In the keynote event of Global Ethics Day 2025, a panel of experts explored vital questions around power, accountability, and the...
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The Cost of Military Primacy, with Peter Harris
What is the cost of America pursuing a strategy of military primacy post-WWII? Peter Harris, associate professor at Colorado State University, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to discuss what a less militarized future might look like for the U.S. and the impact of the Trump administration…
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Post-Liberal American Power
The defunding of U.S. soft power institutions, significant cuts to foreign aid, and the embrace of an aggressive transactional style of diplomacy have shattered long-held assumptions about American values and its interests on the world stage. This begs the question: Has Trump 2.0 ushered in an…
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Ethics in a Post-Liberal World
Seven months into Trump's second term, liberal principles hang in the balance. Bringing these norms back to life will require courage and the power of states, businesses, institutions, and the people, says Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal in this "Ethical Article." To read this article,...
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The Ethical Abyss: A Tech Ecosystem Reliant on Conflict, with Professor Elke Schwarz
The race to develop the latest AI-enabled military technology is often justified as essential to preserving democracy. Yet, this "virtuous" messaging deployed by tech CEOs and venture capitalists is driving the creation of a new highly militarized tech ecosystem—one which relies on perpetual...
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Values, Realism, and U.S. Foreign Policy, with Alexander Vindman
How can the U.S. pursue a realist foreign policy without abandoning its core values? Alexander Vindman, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and former director for European Affairs on the White House's National Security Council, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast for a discussion on the...
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Living a Moral Life in a Catastrophic World, with Philosopher Travis Rieder
Moral philosopher Travis Rieder joins "Values & Interests" to explore how we might pursue ethical lives in an era of global crisis. From climate change and violent conflict to the dilemmas of daily life, Rieder argues that we must radically overhaul our outdated moral toolkits to face the...
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Investing in Your Ethical Infrastructure, with Dr. Simon Longstaff
For the latest episode of "Values & Interests," Dr. Simon Longstaff, executive director of The Ethics Centre, visits Carnegie Council for a wide-ranging conversation on the power of moral inquiry, performative vs. good-faith engagement with those you disagree with, and how ethics can help to...
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Ethics on Film: Discussion of "Mountainhead"
In this "Ethical Article" Alex Woodson reviews HBO's "Mountainhead," discussing ethical issues around emerging tech and the power and influence of billionaires. To read this review, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-on-film-mountainhead
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Empowerment, Ownership, & Agency: Building an Inclusive AI Future, with Jimena Viveros
What will it take to build an inclusive technological future? International lawyer and AI expert Jimena Viveros joins Values & Interests to explore why bridging the digital divide between the Global South and North is both a moral and economic imperative. Viveros shares her vision for a…
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Ethics on Film: Discussion of "I'm Still Here"
In this "Ethical Article" Alex Woodson reviews the 2024 Oscar-winning Braziilian film "I'm Still Here," discussing ethical issues surrounding Brazil's military dictatorship in the late 20th century and parallels to today. This film was directed by Walter Salles and based on a memoir by Marcelo...
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In Search of a Migration Governance Framework for the Modern Age
In this "Ethical Article" Susie Han says that the time for a crisis-driven approach to migration has passed. A pragmatic global response is needed—and Carnegie Council's Model International Mobility Convention initiative (MIMC) is the mechanism to get us there. To read this article, please go to:...
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Character not Compliance, with Edward Brooks
We're living in a world where transactional leadership is being prioritized over transformational leadership. Dr. Edward Brooks, executive director of the Oxford Character Project, joins the Values & Interest podcast to discuss how embracing ethics can unlock better thinking, relationships, and...
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Advancing Global Health in a Moment of Fracturing Partnerships
Global health requires a multilateral approach for research, knowledge sharing, and the distribution of life-saving services. What lessons can we take from recent shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic? What ethical considerations are imperative as we enter a moment of fracturing global…
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The State of Migration in 2025: Balancing Values and Interests at the International and Local Levels
Today's shifting global order is increasingly restrictive, and even hostile, toward human mobility. Meanwhile, geopolitical volatility continues to drive more people to seek safety across borders. In response, Carnegie Council's Model International Mobility Convention (MIMC) project held a…
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About this show
Listen, learn, and reflect on the most critical issues at the intersection of ethics and international affairs. Subscribe for access to the latest interviews, events, and audio articles from Carnegie Council's global community.
Hosted by
Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
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