Framing ethical perspectives
As countries grapple with global issues, such as climate change and the impact of emerging technology, the way that nations interact has never been more consequential. Our experts, programming, and impact initiatives work to analyze the foreign policy of the United States and other nations with an aim to explore shared values and produce agenda-setting resources.
Foreign Policy Resources
International affairs, global governance, and more
DEC 15, 2025 • Video
The Ethics of Decision-Making in National Security
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.
AUG 14, 2025 • Podcast
Values, Realism, and U.S. Foreign Policy, with Alexander Vindman
Alexander Vindman joins "Values & Interests" to discuss the critical interplay between morality and power in the practice of geopolitics.
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.
Model International Mobility Convention
The primary goal of the Model International Mobility Convention (MIMC) is to formulate new rules for migration and asylum that can benefit both migrants and refugees as well as their states of origin, transit, and destination.
Explore Our Foreign Policy Resources
JUN 3, 2002 • Transcript
The Savage Wars of Peace: Small Wars and the Rise of American Power
The United States has a long but largely uncelebrated history of fighting "small wars," and "if the past is a prologue of what is to ...
APR 11, 2002 • Transcript
A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide
Why did the United States largely ignore the Rwandan genocide and yet devote endless time to the contemporaneous Bosnian crisis? According to Samantha Power, the ...
MAR 6, 2002 • Transcript
The Paradox of American Power: Why the World's Only Superpower Can't Go It Alone
Joseph Nye argues that U.S. leaders must create a framework that preserves American values congruent with those of other people in the world. "If ...
FEB 20, 2002 • Transcript
Ending Terrorism: A Strategy for the Future (New York Forum #3)
The U.S. has set out to end terrorism. But can it achieve this objective while also maintaining a strategic balance in an area of ...
FEB 5, 2002 • Transcript
Multilateralism and U.S. Foreign Policy: Ambivalent Engagement
After analyzing a number of specific global policy issues, Forman and Patrick advise that when dealing with transnational challenges, "unilateralism is neither wise nor sustainable."
JAN 10, 2002 • Transcript
Warrior Politics: Why Leadership Demands a Pagan Ethos
The teachings of ancient Greek, Roman and Chinese philosophers are relevant in today's foreign policy environment because every current and future challenge to civilization has ...
DEC 12, 2001 • Transcript
The Secret Strength of American Foreign Policy
Many have accused the United States of being negligent in the area of foreign policy, yet, according to Walter Russell Mead, almost no other country ...
OCT 29, 2001 • Transcript
America and Political Islam: Clash of Cultures or Clash of Interests?
Fifty years ago, the entire Middle East used to admire the United States, viewing it as an island of progressivism in a Europe-centric world. Today ...
MAY 11, 2001 • Article
Should Traditional Nuclear Deterrence Be Abandoned?
Public panel in Washington, D.C., cosponsored with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and The Century Foundation.
FEB 15, 2001 • Article
Moral Dilemmas of U.S. Policy Toward Iraq
When it comes to issues such as imposing sanctions, pursuing assassination, overthrowing regimes, and waging war, the moral questions may be the most important ones.