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
NOV 4, 2008 • Podcast
Ark of the Liberties: America and the World
Ted Widmer shows that from its beginnings, the United States, for all its shortfalls, has been by far the world's greatest advocate for freedom.
OCT 29, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: United States Experiments with African Command
Was it auspicious timing or a bad omen that Somali pirates hijacked a Ukrainian arms shipment the day before the U.S. military launched AFRICOM, ...
OCT 22, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Lovers with Borders
Young international couples find the strict Danish immigration policies rotten, but a new ruling from the European Union could ease cross-border marriages.
OCT 16, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: A Slick Solution for Oil Markets
Although oil prices are declining, the global oil market is out of whack and prices remain high, causing economic suffering around the world. To get ...
OCT 14, 2008 • Podcast
The Freedom Agenda: Why America Must Spread Democracy (Just Not the Way George Bush Did)
According to James Traub, although Bush bungled his famous Freedom Agenda—that American liberty is dependent on liberty in other lands—the concept still holds ...
OCT 14, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Saving the Congo
The scale of Congo's resource curse, weak governance, and civil war calls for policy changes beyond anything typically contemplated by the international community.
SEP 24, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Peace Breaks Out in the Taiwan Strait
While the world's attention is focused on wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Georgia, a little-observed positive trend is taking place on the other side of ...
SEP 9, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Oil Revenue Sharing for Iraq
Developing a fair system for sharing Iraqi oil revenues will ensure that no one can aspire to be the next Saddam Hussein.
AUG 28, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: The Rights of Human Goddesses
At last, the young girls who are worshiped as living goddesses in Nepal are now awarded basic human rights by the state.
AUG 28, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: One Bed, Different Dreams
Seeing the Olympics as a watershed event, Japanese commentators have speculated about a "post-Olympic" China, and their prognoses are generally darker than the more optimistic ...