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
FEB 6, 2026 • Article
Trump and the Gaslighting of American Realism
APR 9, 2026 • Article
Realism vs. Pragmatism: Understanding America’s New Rhetorical Landscape
Amid Trump's fiery rhetoric and debates over "realism," Professor Jason Ralph writes that "pragmatism" may offer a better alternative for the American public.
SEP 11, 2025 • Video
Post-Liberal American Power
In the first event in our "Values & Interests" series, an expert panel examines the question: Has Trump 2.0 ushered in an era of post-liberal American power?
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 18, 2011 • Article
From Resistance to Revolution and Back Again: What Egyptian Youth Can Learn From Otpor When Its Activists Leave Tahrir Square
Joksic and Spoerri discuss Otpor, the Serbian youth movement that influenced Egypt's youths. In analyzing the sources of Otpor's ultimate collapse after Milosevic's fall, they ...
FEB 17, 2011 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Innovating Sovereign Wealth Funds
As we struggle to tackle financial and ecological sustainability, sovereign wealth funds such as in Alaska deserve far greater attention for positive adoption.
FEB 3, 2011 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Digital Rations
Internet access is politicized in Castro's Cuba and critical expression suppressed, but as technological savvy increases on the island many are able to connect through ...
FEB 3, 2011 • Article
Egypt: Liberalism and Intervention
The next time we claim that some peoples, traditions, religions, or civilizations cannot achieve democracy, rights, or freedom unless we help them, we might want ...
JAN 18, 2011 • Podcast
Ethics Matter: Chris Brown, LSE Professor of International Relations
Chris Brown reveals the roots of his current thinking, and discusses his views on Marxism, human rights, humanitarian intervention, direct versus representational democracy, and cosmopolitanism ...
OCT 29, 2010 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: The Untapped Potential of Japanese Civil Society
Civil society in Japan is far more vibrant than it was 20 years ago, yet a discouraging regulatory environment continues to stifle the sector's potential.
OCT 28, 2010 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Welcome to the Urban Revolution
We must become masters of a sustainable, just, and ecological urbanism writes Jeb Brugmann in his analysis of how the advantages of urban settlement are ...
OCT 15, 2010 • Podcast
Global Ethics Corner: Politics and Civility
Civility has fled the 24/7 news cycle. Public life need not be this way. Why do we tolerate, even gorge, on this lack of civility? How ...
SEP 29, 2010 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Reconstituting Nepal
Successful state-building in Nepal may require the state to compromise in the short term with the morally arbitrary entities that provide services in the villages ...
SEP 14, 2010 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Islands of Inertia
In the wake of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan's victory over Ichiro Ozawa for control of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, is more inertia ...