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
APR 23, 2010 • Podcast
Global Ethics Corner: Should American Elections be Reformed?
Is it time to reform the U.S. electoral structure? Should more views be represented? Do narrow interests have too much power? What do you ...
APR 21, 2010 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: The Fate of the Paperless
Detention centers are on the rise as a means to control illegal immigration, while reports of human rights abuse and rising financial costs call into ...
APR 8, 2010 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Rage against Virtual Rape
It is up to the Japanese to decide what regulations the nation wants to prescribe for sex industry software.
MAR 25, 2010 • Podcast
Freedom for Sale: Why the World Is Trading Democracy for Security
From Russia and China to the U.S. and the U.K., many seemingly dissimilar countries have an "unwritten pact," under which, consciously or not, ...
MAR 24, 2010 • Podcast
The Ethics of Exit from Afghanistan
Katherine Brown and Robert Diamond, Truman Fellows with first-hand experience in Afghanistan, discuss just how and when--both ethically and pragmatically--the U.S. can leave that ...
MAR 17, 2010 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Xenophobia Tests National Legitimacy
The connection between xenophobic sentiments and national identity calls into question the legitimacy of nations in an era of increasing migration and multiculturalism.
MAR 1, 2010 • Podcast
The Science of Liberty: Democracy, Reason, and the Laws of Nature
Timothy Ferris argues that just as the scientific revolution rescued billions from poverty, the Enlightenment values it inspired have swelled the numbers living in free ...
FEB 26, 2010 • Podcast
Is Public Diplomacy Beneficial for all Participants?
One goal of public diplomacy is to create allies inside other states through education programs or cultural exchanges. Should this be viewed as enriching individuals, ...
FEB 25, 2010 • Podcast
Democracy: A Political System for Securing Human Rights
This talk took place at the 2009 Carnegie-Uehiro-Oxford Conference, "Human Rights, Democracy, and Democratization." It was part of a session entitled "Human Rights and Democracy: Ethical ...
FEB 24, 2010 • Podcast
Some Pitfalls of Democratization
This talk took place at the 2009 Carnegie-Uehiro-Oxford Conference, "Human Rights, Democracy, and Democratization." It was part of a session entitled "Human Rights ...