Applied Ethics

Framing ethical perspectives

Applied ethics refers to the practical applications of the moral principles that govern behavior. Carnegie Council focuses on this field, mostly through the realm of international affairs, by identifying and addressing the most critical ethical issues of today and tomorrow. Our initiatives, content, and experts analyze the way that governments, institutions, and individuals interact and make choices on global issues, such as climate change, emerging technology, and governance.

Featured Applied Ethics Resources

Practical conversations, decision analysis, and more

JUL 5, 2023 Article

A Framework for the International Governance of AI

Carnegie Council, in collaboration with IEEE, proposes a five-part AI governance framework to enable the constructive use of AI.

APR 12, 2022 Podcast

Surveillance Tech's Infinite Loop of Harms, with Chris Gilliard

In this discussion with Senior Fellow Arthur Holland Michel, Chris Gilliard explains why the arc of surveillance technology and novel AI bends toward failures that ...

Explore Our Applied Ethics Resources

APR 27, 2021 Podcast

Global Ethics Review: The Model International Mobility Convention 2.0, with Michael Doyle

How can we make migration more ethical? Columbia University's Professor Michael Doyle, also a senior fellow at Carnegie Council, discusses the Model International Mobility Convention (...

United States Capitol. CREDIT: <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/alchemist_x/49207005032/">John Brighenti</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(CC)</a>

APR 16, 2021 Podcast

Are Americans Facing an Undemocratic Future? with Jason Stanley

U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point. As America emerges from the January 6th assault on the Capitol, society faces a critical question: ...

APR 6, 2021 Article

Are Americans Facing an Undemocratic Future?

Faith in democracy is waning, and the events of the past year have done little to inspire confidence. Today, the presumption of democracy as an ...

United States President James Monroe presides over a cabinet meeting, 1823. CREDIT: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_Monroe_Cabinet.jpg">Granger Historical Picture Archive/Wikimedia</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/">(Public Domain)</a>

MAR 30, 2021 Article

Learning (Ethical) Lessons from the Greek Revolution

In this blog post, U.S. Global Engagement Senior Fellow Nikolas Gvosdev reacts to an article from Paul Glastris in the "Washington Monthly." Nearly 200 years ...

President Macron at the World Economic Forum's Davos Agenda, January 2021. <br>CREDIT: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/50877135273">World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(CC)</a>

MAR 30, 2021 Article

ESG Offers Capacity, Capital, and Consensus for Global Challenges

In this article, Carnegie New Leader Ravipal Bains outlines an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) led reorientation of the global financial system. The core idea ...

President Biden at the White House, March 2021. <br>CREDIT: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/51033292536/">Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz</a> (<a href="https://www.usa.gov/government-works">U.S. Government Works</a>)

MAR 25, 2021 Article

Grappling with Competing Ethical Demands: The New Biden Administration

Any leader faces competing ethical demands. In particular, policymakers must decide which ethical claims to preference and which to defer. In this blog post from ...

MAR 23, 2021 Podcast

Global Ethics Review: COVID-19 & International Relations, Part Two

In this new podcast series, we'll be connecting Carnegie Council's work and current events with our senior fellows, senior staff, and friends of our organization. ...

MAR 19, 2021 Video

Carnegie New Leaders Podcast: Feminism, Ethics, & International Affairs, with Professor Cynthia Enloe

In this Carnegie New Leaders (CNL) podcast, Dr. Anwar Mhajne, an assistant professor at Stonehill College and a member of the CNL program, talks about ...

MAR 17, 2021 Podcast

Global Ethics Review: COVID-19 & International Relations, Part One

In this new podcast series, we'll be connecting Carnegie Council's work and current events with our senior fellows, senior staff, and friends of our organization. ...

Professor Joseph S. Nye, Jr., 2013. CREDIT: <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/chathamhouse/8719518195/">Chatham House</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(CC)</a>

FEB 17, 2021 Article

Measuring Morality in Foreign Policy: Joseph Nye’s Criteria

In this blog post, U.S. Global Engagement Senior Fellow Nikolas Gvosdev reflects on an article in "The American Oxonian" by Joseph S Nye, Jr. ...