Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs

We're hiring! Are you a storyteller passionate about making complex global issues accessible and engaging? Apply to become our Deputy Director of Communications. This role will be responsible for supporting strategy and ex*****on of content production across core issue areas: applied ethics, peace and security, emerging technology, migration, and climate change. Join our team:

Deputy Director of Communications The Deputy Director of Communications is a senior position responsible for supporting the strategy and ex*****on of the Council’s publications, multimedia, events, and communications activities.

"Detention centers do not need to be carceral; they are this way by design and as a product of current attitudes toward immigrants." Tyra Lennie analyzes the moral duties that we owe to migrant children in detention centers. https://carnegiecouncil.co/detained-migrant-children-lennie

Registration is open for our first event of the year, "Why Space Matters & How to Govern It" on Thurs. Feb. 19 at 8:30am ET.

Mai'a Cross, Marianne Riddervold, Ann C. Thresher, and Corey L. Trusty will explore critical ethical questions around governance, militarization, and emerging technologies in space. Join us: https://carnegiecouncil.co/space-matters

What are the moral duties of democratic states when faced with political violence abroad? This question is at the heart of the "Ethics & International Affairs" journal latest book symposium analyzing key arguments from Shmuel Nili's book "Beyond the Law's Reach?" Nili responds to the critiques in this essay: https://carnegiecouncil.co/reply-to-critics-shmuel-nili

Meet Carnegie Ethics Fellow Denver Barrows! From serving in the military to scaling electric vehicle infrastructure at Amazon, Denver has faced a myriad of ethical dilemmas in the workplace. Now, through the Fellowship, he's exploring how institutions can set the tone for ethical leadership by creating space for thoughtful, good-faith discussions. https://carnegiecouncil.co/cef-spotlight-denver-barrows

To what extent are citizens of affluent democracies complicit in the injustices their governments commit? Alex Zakaras outlines a theory of civic obligation to explain when and how much citizens must act to combat government injustice. https://carnegiecouncil.co/citizens-complicity-zakaras

2025 was marked by major global transformations: Illiberalism ascendant, wars in multiple regions, lives and society fundamentally altered by AI-related technologies, and the shocking pace and scale of climate change.

As the year comes to a close, we've compiled a list of reports, podcasts, and articles that examine how we can empower ethics in this moment.

Empowering Ethics in 2025 Explore Carnegie Council’s 2025 Year in Review resource which highlights podcasts, events, and more covering some of this year’s key ethical issues.

PODCAST | Are power and empathy incompatible?

In the latest episode of "Values & Interests," Dr. Claire Yorke joins host Kevin Maloney to discuss how empathy can be used to build inclusive power structures, while avoiding the trap of blind idealism. https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-yorke

Can a wealthy democracy fully repay its moral debts to a country it has (un)intentionally harmed?

Yuna Blajer de la Garza argues that while it is impossible to precisely calculate the debt, the recognition and attempts to atone can foster goodwill between countries. https://carnegiecouncil.co/ambiguous-debts-la-garza

In a world marked by ongoing wars, frozen conflicts, and rapidly evolving military technologies, what does it take to build just peace?

Watch our latest event featuring distinguished experts Asha Castleberry-Hernandez, Scott A. Silverstone, and Peter Hoffman unpacking this critical question:

Re-examining our Capacity for Just Peace Watch this discussion featuring distinguished experts reflecting on the state of war in 2025 and the obstacles to achieving just peace.

What are the moral duties of a democratic state when faced with violence abroad?

Michael Blake argues that established democracies such as the U.S. have a responsibility to seek justice elsewhere—even if it's grappling with the shadow of violence within its own borders. https://carnegiecouncil.co/shadow-of-violence-blake

Meet Carnegie Ethics Fellow Nadav Avihay! As a sustainability associate working in the real estate industry, Nadav is often navigating the ethical tensions between maintaining fiduciary responsibility and responding to climate urgency. In this interview, he discusses how the Fellowship has strengthened his understanding of ethics and its application in everyday decision-making. https://carnegiecouncil.co/cef-spotlight-nadav-avihay