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
DEC 23, 2007 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Maquilapolis: City of Factories
What is the human price of industrialization and globalization? Maquilapolis: City of Factories highlights what happens when capital comes to town and when it flies ...
DEC 12, 2007 • Podcast
Pakistan: The Struggle Between Politics and Extremism
Created as a Muslim state 60 years ago this August, Pakistan is in crisis, wrestling with Draconian laws, the conflict between secularism and Islam, and an ...
OCT 29, 2007 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Searching for the Ethical Blogger
Blogs have evolved into a powerful sociopolitical force capable of shaping opinion, breaking news, and giving a voice to the voiceless. But with great chatter ...
OCT 24, 2007 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Has Trade Run Aground?
As astonishing as it seems, globalization is playing better in Pretoria than in Peoria. Two recent surveys show Western attitudes toward global trade hardening even ...
OCT 12, 2007 • Podcast
Head and Heart: American Christianities
Garry Wills says that the U.S. separation of church and state both unleashed evangelical feelings and tempered them with reason and rationality. "Putting together ...
OCT 10, 2007 • Podcast
Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life
With the advent of global capitalism, consumers have many more choices and investors are doing well. But democracy, charged with caring for all citizens, is ...
OCT 5, 2007 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Spoofing Big Brother
Conceptual artist Hasan Elahi documents his every move online with hundreds of pictures. He photographs the toilets he uses, the food he eats, the places ...
SEP 18, 2007 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Briefings: Post-Invasion Economies
Sustainable economic growth has been a major goal of reconstruction efforts in post-invasion Iraq and Afghanistan. Trade and investment will go a long way toward ...
SEP 7, 2007 • Podcast
Republic.com 2.0
The internet offers us unprecedented access to information. Yet it also allows us to block out diverse ideas, selecting only articles and blogs that reinforce ...
SEP 7, 2007 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Democracy as Economic Strategy
Democracy is a crucial element of economic development that India enjoys, and China's stability will not be sustainable in the long term without it.