Democracy

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 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

Hosted by Joel H. Rosenthal

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.

By Elizabeth Seger

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

OCT 4, 2013 • Podcast

The Road to War: Presidential Commitments Honored and Betrayed

The last declaration of war authorized by Congress was World War II, yet the U.S. has been entangled in many wars since. Why have ...

Hosted by Joanne J. Myers

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OCT 4, 2013 • Podcast

Strategy: A History

Creating a successful strategy is not just a question of being cleverer than your opponent. Sir Lawrence Freedman lays out some cardinal rules: think about ...

Hosted by Joanne J. Myers

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CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/5571579314/">UN Photo/Albert Gonzalez Farran</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

OCT 1, 2013 • Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Peace Pays for Itself

The global economic impact of violence in 2012 was estimated to be $9.5 trillion. Governments need a way to account for and recuperate these unproductive expenditures.

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CREDIT: <a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8510182328_61c6283152_b.jpg">Donna Burton</a>, (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>)

SEP 30, 2013 • Podcast

Arash Abizadeh on Immigration

As the U.S. moves toward a major overhaul of its immigration system, many of those most significantly affected are being left out of the ...

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SEP 27, 2013 • Article

Ethical Challenges in Trans-Pacific Relations: Selected Essays, 2013 Contest

Carnegie Council presents the 12 best essays from our 2013 Trans-Pacific Contest, a pioneering exercise in student collaboration. These outstanding pieces touch on issues ranging from the ...

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CREDIT: Minnesota Historical Society, <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martin_Luther_King_Jr_St_Paul_Campus_U_MN.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>

SEP 6, 2013 • Article

Living With Injustice: Lessons from 1963

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the writing of three seminal texts in 20th century philosophy. An examination of these texts--by King, Arendt, and ...

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CREDIT: US Navy Naval History and Heritage Command, <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BattleOfVirginiaCapes.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>

SEP 6, 2013 • Article

Finding Our National Moral Compass on Syria

The U.S. received aid from other nations during its own Revolutionary War, and so despite all, "as America debates the pros and cons of ...

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CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2127311117/">Mike Baird</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

SEP 6, 2013 • Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: The Right Social Policies Can Promote Intergenerational Ethics

A new study by Bertelsmann Foundation analyzes fairness between the young and the old, and provides policy solutions for governments in aging societies.

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