Framing ethical perspectives
Democracy is a form of government in which political control is given to the people, whether directly or through the election of governing officials. Currently, large numbers of people have lost faith in this form of government and some elected officials have been working to dismantle democratic institutions. Our programs, events, and experts strive to better understand this alarming development.
Featured Democracy Resources
State of global democracy, U.S. global engagement, and more
JUN 9, 2021 • Podcast
Illiberal Democracy on the Rise: Examining Brazil, Hungary, & India
APR 19, 2022 • Podcast
Why Democracy vs. Autocracy Misses the Point, with Jean-Marie Guéhenno
Senior Fellow Anja Kapsersen is joined by Professor Jean-Marie Guéhenno for a conversation about virtual communities and the advent of the age of data.
FEB 23, 2024 • Article
What Do We Mean When We Talk About "AI Democratization"?
With numerous parties calling for "AI democratization," Elizabeth Seger, director of the CASM digital policy research hub at Demos, discusses four meanings of the term.
Related Initiatives
Ethics & International Affairs Journal
Ethics & International Affairs is the quarterly journal of Carnegie Council. It aims to close the gap between the theory and practice of ethics.
Explore Our Democracy Resources
FEB 20, 2015 • Podcast
Secularism and Liberalism in the Middle East: Conversation with Ahed Al Hendi (Syria) and Faisal Al-Mutar (Iraq)
How can the international community help human rights activists on the front lines? David Keyes and two dissidents discuss practical steps individuals can take.
FEB 4, 2015 • Article
"Imagining a Better Future: Trust in Our Protectors" by Angela Yoon
"In order to rebuild peace in this century of discord, nations who have or are currently experiencing strife should pursue Security Sector Reform (SSR), with ...
JAN 26, 2015 • Podcast
The Afghan Challenge
With a new president in charge, can Afghanistan find a way out of decades of conflict and oppression? What will be the effect of the ...
JAN 23, 2015 • Article
Romania: On the Edge of a Democratic Cliff?
Responding to Teo Stan's article written just before Romania's November 2014 elections, Patrick Basham argues that unfortunately, Stan was over-optimistic. "On the ground in Romania, the ...
JAN 22, 2015 • Podcast
Extreme Political Parties in Greece: Economic and Cultural Factors
"There has been, in the period of the last 30 years especially, a breakdown of trust, not only between the governed and the government, but also ...
JAN 15, 2015 • Podcast
Top Risks and Ethical Decisions 2015
"The world in 2015 looks a lot more dangerous, a lot more vulnerable," says global political risk specialist Ian Bremmer in his annual forecast. He notes ...
JAN 7, 2015 • Podcast
Unaccountable: Janine Wedel on how Elite Power Brokers have Corrupted the U.S. System
Anthropologist Janine Wedel exposes America's "new corruption"--the unprecedented ways that many politicians, retired generals, academics, bankers, and physicians exploit their prestige and insider knowledge.
DEC 22, 2014 • Podcast
Money and American Politics: A Conversation with Lawrence Lessig
On a crusade against the corrupting influence of money in politics, Lawrence Lessig founded a "super PAC" which raised $10 million to support candidates committed to ...
DEC 10, 2014 • Podcast
America in Retreat: The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder
America is not in decline, but it's certainly in retreat, says Stephens, and this is a mistake. He argues that the United States is the ...
DEC 3, 2014 • Article
Lawlessness: Malaysia and Its Law of Rules
With restrictive laws and harassment touching NGOs, journalists, religious and ethnic minorities, and the LGBT community, Malaysia's rule of law problem cannot be ignored. How ...