Joel H. Rosenthal is president of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. As a nonprofit leader, scholar, and teacher he works to empower ethical action, with a particular focus on U.S. foreign policy, issues of war and peace, human rights, and pluralism. At Carnegie Council, Rosenthal leads a team that identifies critical ethical issues, convenes experts, and produces agenda-setting resources to educate and activate communities globally.
Rosenthal is editor-in-chief of the Ethics & International Affairs journal published by Cambridge University Press. His first book Righteous Realists is an examination of the political realists who shaped post-WWII America in the nuclear age, including Hans Morgenthau, Reinhold Niebuhr, and George Kennan. His current writing and commentary can be found at the President’s Desk.
Rosenthal is the recipient of numerous awards including the Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Studies Association for his lifetime achievement in international studies and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Social Science from the University of Edinburgh. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University and BA from Harvard University.
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Featured Work
OCT 16, 2024 • Video
Empowering Next-Gen Civic Leaders
The keynote event for Global Ethics Day 2024 featured a panel discussion on how we might enhance youth participation and intergenerational collaboration in civic life.
OCT 7, 2024 • Video
Science Summit at UNGA79: Brain Economy Paradigm Shift for Democratic Renewal
As part of the 2024 UN Science Summit at the 79th UNGA, Joel Rosenthal discussed how democratic systems can prosper in the age of technological acceleration.
SEP 25, 2024 • Article
Politico Op-Ed: Walking a Fraying Nuclear Tightrope
In a new op-ed, Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal argues that a recommitment to nuclear arms control is nothing short of a moral imperative.
SEP 19, 2024 • Video
Unlocking Cooperation: AI for All
On the eve of the Summit of the Future, Carnegie Council & UNU-CPR hosted a special event exploring the implications of AI for the multilateral system.
JUL 23, 2024 • Video
Global Leadership in a Turbulent Time: A Conversation with Professor Abiodun Williams
In this roundtable discussion, Tufts University's Professor Abiodun Williams speaks about the essential leadership traits needed to drive institutional change.
JUN 25, 2024 • Video
Unlocking Cooperation: Climate Change and Human Mobility
On World Refugee Day, Carnegie Council hosted a discussion on enhancing multilateral cooperation at the intersection of climate change and human mobility.
MAY 24, 2024 • Video
Kent Executive Training Seminar in Conflict Resolution 2024, Panel 7: Technology and Ethics
On May 24, 2024, Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal served an as expert panelist for a special event hosted by the Kent Global Leadership Program on Conflict ...
APR 9, 2024 • Video
Algorithms of War: The Use of AI in Armed Conflict
From Gaza to Ukraine, the military applications of AI are fundamentally reshaping the ethics of war. How should policymakers navigate AI’s inherent trade-offs?
MAR 28, 2024 • Video
Unlocking Cooperation: The Global South and Global North
In the inaugural panel of the "Unlocking Cooperation" series, Ramu Damodaran leads a discussion on forging a path forward for Global South/North collaboration.
FEB 27, 2024 • Video
A Carnegie Council Conversation with the UK Home Secretary
In this speech, the UK Home Secretary outlined the range of opportunities and challenges faced by countries as a consequence of migration.