Carnegie Council Podcasts

Avril D. Haines, former director of national intelligence, visited Carnegie Council in October to deliver the Second Charles W. Kegley, Jr. Annual Lecture, titled "The Ethics of Decision-Making in National Security."

Reflecting on her distinguished career in public service, Director Haines shared her thoughts on current trends and future needs for building strong and vibrant public institutions. Following the lecture, she was joined by Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal for a discussion on public service at this vital moment in international affairs.

In addition to her role overseeing all U.S. intelligence agencies, Haines has...

For decades, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs has rigorously explored the tension between perpetual conflict and the value of human life. While debates on war and peace are far from novel, the importance of achieving just peace is heightened today by current regional wars, frozen conflicts, and the deployment of new military technologies.

In this panel discussion as part of the "Ethics Empowered: Leadership in Practice" series, distinguished experts reflected on the state of war in 2025 and the obstacles to achieving just peace.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-empowered-just-peace

The international system of the past 80 years was constructed around the principles of sovereignty and self-determination. These pillars of geopolitics now must contend with and adapt to the accelerating adoption and use of AI, both by international actors and the public. This disruption will only increase as researchers and states race to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI).

In this Values & Interests event, an expert panel interrogates significant questions regarding the impact of these technologies on actors operating within the international system.  

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/geopolitics-agi

What are the political and human risks of a world increasingly defined by transactional politics and national interests? Björn Holmberg, executive director of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to discuss the power of pragmatic idealism across international relations, the need to inject morality into the practice of geopolitics without moralizing, and how we can create realistic conditions for greater global cooperation.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-holmberg

Rising global temperatures and a shift in climate patterns have rapidly increased the number of climate migrants. As the world faces these new geopolitical challenges, how can nations collaborate to ensure the rights of people moving due to climate change?

This panel discussion, part of the "Ethics Empowered: Leadership in Practice" series, examines this distinct global-scale challenge that goes to the heart of the moral case for both sovereignty and human rights.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-empowered-climate-migration

How is the information landscape contributing to democratic backsliding around the world? Kenyan journalist and researcher Odanga Madung joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to discuss the corrosive effects of misinformation and disinformation on open societies, the rise of manosphere influencers in Kenya and the U.S., and the power of narrative in shaping our collective future.

Madung is a fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and serves as managing director of Odipo Dev, a Nairobi-based impact and media advisory firm. He regularly contributes to publications such as "Wired," "The Guardian," and CNN.

For more, please go...

In this "Ethical Article" Kathleen Egan reviews the new Netflix film "A House of Dynamite." She discusses the many ethical decisions facing leaders when a nuclear missile is launched at the United States. 

To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-on-film-dynamite

For those dedicated to humanitarianism, 2025 marks an inflection point, one that requires us to grapple with the question: How might we re-envision humanitarian aid?

In the keynote event of Global Ethics Day 2025, a panel of experts explored vital questions around power, accountability, and the need for greater inclusivity in the design, funding, and delivery of humanitarian aid, both today and into the future. 

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ged-reenvisioning-humanitarianism

What is the cost of America pursuing a strategy of military primacy post-WWII? Peter Harris, associate professor at Colorado State University, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to discuss what a less militarized future might look like for the U.S. and the impact of the Trump administration on American foreign policy. Harris' latest book is "Why America Can't Retrench (And How it Might)."

For more, please go to: https://www.carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-peter-harris

The defunding of U.S. soft power institutions, significant cuts to foreign aid, and the embrace of an aggressive transactional style of diplomacy have shattered long-held assumptions about American values and its interests on the world stage. This begs the question: Has Trump 2.0 ushered in an era of post-liberal American power?

In the first panel in Carnegie Council's new keynote event series, "Values & Interests," an expert panel interrogates the relationship between morality and power in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment. 

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-post-liberal-american-power

Seven months into Trump's second term, liberal principles hang in the balance. Bringing these norms back to life will require courage and the power of states, businesses, institutions, and the people, says Carnegie Council President Joel Rosnenthal in this "Ethical Article."

To read this article, pleae go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/post-liberal-ethics-rosenthal

The race to develop the latest AI-enabled military technology is often justified as essential to preserving democracy. Yet, this "virtuous" messaging deployed by tech CEOs and venture capitalists is driving the creation of a new highly militarized tech ecosystem—one which relies on perpetual conflict to test, iterate, and improve weapons systems.

Elke Schwarz, professor at Queen Mary University of London, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to unpack the virtue signaling of today's techno-military-industrial-complex, society's failure to cultivate ethical thought in an increasingly computational world, and the resulting dehumanization of civilians in conflicts in places such as Ga...

How can the U.S. pursue a realist foreign policy without abandoning its core values? Alexander Vindman, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and former director for European Affairs on the White House's National Security Council, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast for a discussion on the critical interplay between morality and power in the practice of geopolitics. Together with host Kevin Maloney, Vindman discusses the shifting U.S. foreign policy landscape, President Trump's increasingly transactional approach to international relations, and what a just end to the war in Ukraine might look like.

Alexander Vindman's latest book is "...

Moral philosopher Travis Rieder joins "Values & Interests" to explore how we might pursue ethical lives in an era of global crisis. From climate change and violent conflict to the dilemmas of daily life, Rieder argues that we must radically overhaul our outdated moral toolkits to face the challenges of an increasingly contradictory and catastrophic world.

Dr. Travis Rieder is an associate research professor at the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University.

His latest book is "Catastrophe Ethics: How to Choose Well in a World of Tough Choices."

For more, please go...

For the latest episode of "Values & Interests," Dr. Simon Longstaff, executive director of The Ethics Centre, visits Carnegie Council for a wide-ranging conversation on the power of moral inquiry, performative vs. good-faith engagement with those you disagree with, and how ethics can help to address global challenges such as climate change.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-longstaff

In this "Ethical Article" Alex Woodson reviews HBO's "Mountainhead," discussing ethical issues around emerging tech and the power and influence of billionaires. 

To read this review, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-on-film-mountainhead

What will it take to build an inclusive technological future? International lawyer and AI expert Jimena Viveros joins Values & Interests to explore why bridging the digital divide between the Global South and North is both a moral and economic imperative. Viveros shares her vision for a grassroots movement in the Global South that empowers communities to address today's needs while building an innovation ecosystem for the future.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-viveros

In this "Ethical Article" Alex Woodson reviews the 2024 Oscar-winning Braziilian film "I'm Still Here," discussing ethical issues surrounding Brazil's military dictatorship in the late 20th century and parallels to today. This film was directed by Walter Salles and based on a memoir by Marcelo Rubens Paiva. 

To read the article, please go to: https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/media/series/ethics-on-film/im-still-here

In this "Ethical Article" Susie Han says that the time for a crisis-driven approach to migration has passed. A pragmatic global response is needed—and Carnegie Council's Model International Mobility Convention initiative (MIMC) is the mechanism to get us there.

To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/migration-framework-han

We're living in a world where transactional leadership is being prioritized over transformational leadership. Dr. Edward Brooks, executive director of the Oxford Character Project, joins the Values & Interest podcast to discuss how embracing ethics can unlock better thinking, relationships, and outcomes in our personal and professional lives.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-brooks

Global health requires a multilateral approach for research, knowledge sharing, and the distribution of life-saving services. What lessons can we take from recent shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic? What ethical considerations are imperative as we enter a moment of fracturing global partnerships?

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-empowered-global-health

Today's shifting global order is increasingly restrictive, and even hostile, toward human mobility. Meanwhile, geopolitical volatility continues to drive more people to seek safety across borders. In response, Carnegie Council's Model International Mobility Convention (MIMC) project held a special multi-part convening at the Council's Global Ethics Hub in New York.

The event began with a presentation and fireside chat on the state of international migration featuring Carnegie Council Senior Fellow Michael Doyle and Greg Maniatis, director, refugees & migration at Open Society Foundations. Following the fireside chat, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Molly O'Toole moderated a panel discussion on key challe...

University of Minnesota's Professor Tanisha Fazal joins the Values & Interests podcast to discuss shifting geopolitical norms in a moment of global transition.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-fazal

U.S. Army Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mark Hertling joins the Values & Interests podcast to discuss lessons in leadership, the power of embracing your professional ethos, and the critical importance of staying true to personal values in times of crisis.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-hertling

The world has entered a new space age. This moment presents a myriad of novel ethical questions and governance challenges that require collaboration across sectors and the creation of new pathways for multilateral cooperation.

In response, Northeastern University's Ethics Institute partnered with Carnegie Council to host a special convening on the future of international space governance, diplomacy, security, and sustainability.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/unlocking-cooperation-space-diplomacy

In this "Ethical Article" Oxford's Corneliu Bjola reads his essay examining five core breaches of diplomatic norms during the Trump–Zelenskyy Oval Office meeting.

This article was written as an Online Exclusive for Carnegie Council's "Ethics & International Affairs" journal. To read this article, go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/bjola-trump-zelenskyy

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, large states are acting with increased hostility toward the principle of international cooperation, challenging the very foundations of the multilateral system. Ambassador Ali Naseer Mohamed, permanent representative of the Maldives to the United Nations, joins the Values & Interests podcast to discuss the role that small states must play to ease geopolitical friction and reform the international system at this critical moment for global security.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-amb-mohamed

United Nations peacekeeping operations present unique ethical challenges for both multilateral actors and local communities. Today, these moral and political dilemmas are exacerbated by a deteriorating geopolitical environment. In this discussion, leading practitioners grapple with critical questions for UN peacekeeping, now and in the future.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-empowered-peacekeeping

The Trump administration's attempted dismantling of USAID has ignited a debate around whether humanitarian aid advances or stifles America's national interest. Andrew Natsios, former administrator of USAID under George W. Bush, joins the Values & Interests podcast to discuss humanitarianism as a moral principle, the impact of aid programs both for U.S. citizens and millions globally, and the potential geopolitical consequences of the shuttering of the aid organization.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-natsios

For the inaugural episode of the Values & Interests podcast, scholar and Carnegie Council president Joel Rosenthal unpacks the complex and often challenging relationship between morality and power in our personal lives and across geopolitics. He highlights the need to reject zero-sum thinking and confront amoral political actors in a moment when the principles of democracy, international cooperation, and humanitarianism are under assault.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-rosenthal

Values & Interests is a new podcast from Carnegie Council, which takes a deep dive into the ethical tensions and tradeoffs at the heart of decision-making in today's interconnected world. Together, we'll hear from leaders and experts who have spent their careers reckoning with ethical questions across geopolitics, tech, philosophy, and business. 

For more, please go to https://www.carnegiecouncil.org

Democracies faced significant headwinds in 2024 as illiberal leaders and autocrats increasingly collaborated to suppress dissent and undermine institutions, both domestically and transnationally. In 2025, how can democratic states enhance multilateral cooperation to more proactively counter authoritarian efforts to erode freedom?

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/unlocking-cooperation-open-societies

On the heels of a new international order, Carnegie Council will continue to champion the vision of peace and cooperation that remains our mission, says Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal in this "Ethical Article." 

To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/new-order-principles.

In this "Ethical Article" Alex Woodson explores ethical issues around nuclear weapons and non-proliferation, the military-industrial complex, and the role of political satire in his review of Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film "Dr. Strangelove."

To read this article, please go to:  https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-on-film-strangelove

In this "Ethical Article" Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, head of anticipatory action and innovation at the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, reads her article on the rise of agentic AI and the need for researchers and policymakers to agree on ethical principles to inform governance of this emerging technology.

To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/agentic-ai-fournier-tombs

In this special episode of "Ethical Articles," Carnegie Ethics Fellow Christine Jakobson reads the article "Artifical Intelligence and Election Integrity in 2024," written by herself together with Fellows Travis Gidado and Hinh Tran.

You can access the full projct here: https://carnegiecouncil.co/cef-ai-democracy

This project was produced by a working group from the inaugural Carnegie Ethics Fellows cohort reflecting nearly two years of convenings, collaboration, and research. Each report in this special series examines a critical issue at the intersection of ethics and international affairs. The Carnegie Ethics Fellowship aims to develop the next generation of...

More than half of the world's population is under 30 years old, yet young people are significantly underrepresented in key policymaking spaces. As the world confronts a multitude of existential challenges, fresh perspectives, greater transparency, and increased accountability are needed inside the halls of power now more than ever.

In the keynote event for Global Ethics Day 2024, this panel discussion and audience Q&A featured young leaders from around the world discussed how we might enhance youth participation and intergenerational collaboration in civic life to tackle the most pressing issues at the intersection of ethics and international affairs.<...

In this "Ethical Article" Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal argues that a recommitment to nuclear arms control is nothing short of a moral imperative.

This article originally appeared in "Politico." You can access the op-ed here: https://www.politico.eu/article/walking-nuclear-tightrope-geopolitics-un-general-assembly/

Directly following the release of a final report from the UN Secretary-General's High-level Advisory Body on AI and on the eve of the Summit of the Future, Carnegie Council and UN University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR) convened leading policymakers and members of civil society to examine the question: How can we ensure a future where AI works for all?

This event features critical insights from:

Eleonore Fournier-Tombs -- Head of Anticipatory Action and Innovation, UNU-CPR (Moderator) Doreen Bogdan-Martin -- Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 
Vilas Dhar, President -- President, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation & M...

In the latest edition of "Ethical Articles" Dr. Brianna Rosen, strategy and policy fellow at Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government, reads her latest commentary for Carnegie Council on key takeaways from the 2024 Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) summit in Seoul.

To read the article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/military-ai-rosen

Ahead of the AI for Information Accessibility Conference 2024 and the roll-out of the Caribbean AI Policy Roadmap, Carnegie Council and the UNESCO Information for All Programme Working Group on Information Accessibility hosted a panel of diverse speakers on AI ethics and policymaking in the digital age.

From Jamaica to Canada to Ukraine and beyond, how can citizens, civic institutions, and industry professionals work together to make sure that emerging technologies are accessible for everyone? What are common roadblocks that policymakers have to work through? And what are the principles that we all should keep in mind when...

In the quest for technological superiority, military strategists are looking into AI systems like language models for decision-making. With the potential for catastrophic consequences, we must address the ethical and safety concerns of these systems, writes Stanford University's Dr. Max Lamparth in this "Ethical Article."

To read this article, plase go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/lamparth

This "Ethical Article" discusses the moral questions around the banning of countries and athletes from the Olympic Games.

This article was written by Drew Thompson as an Online Exclusive for Carnegie Council's "Ethics & International Affairs" journal. It was voiced by Terence Hurley. 

To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/olympics-war

In this episode of the Artificial Intelligence & Equality podcast, Senior Fellow Anja Kaspersen speaks with Sara Hooker, head of Cohere for AI, to discuss her pioneering work on model design, model bias, and data representation. She highlights the importance of understanding the ethical trade-offs involved in building and using large models and addresses some of the complexities and responsibilities of modern AI development.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/aiei-sara-hooker

In this episode of the Artificial Intelligence & Equality podcast, Senior Fellow Anja Kaspersen speaks with Center for a New American Security's Paul Scharre, war analyst, strategist, and author of Four Battlegrounds and Army of None. They discuss the evolving and persistent aspects of how we think about war, AI procurement as a strategic issue, and the governance of AI and autonomous features in weapon systems. In addition, they offer cautions about applying traditional notions of arms control, including analogies of arms race and deterrence, to the realm of these emerging technologies.

From the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to UN Security Council gridlock and escalating climate and migration crises, multilateral institutions face unprecedented tests. Amid these challenges lies a unique opportunity for a new generation of transformational leaders to emerge—driven by civic duty and the values of the UN Charter.

In this special roundtable discussion hosted by Council President Joel Rosenthal, Tufts University's Professor Abiodun Williams, former director of strategic planning for UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon, draws upon his extensive experience to speak about the essential leadership traits and strategies needed to drive institutional ch...

In this episode of the AI & Equality podcast, Senior Fellow Anja Kaspersen is joined by Elisabet Haugsbø, president of Norway-based tech union Tekna, to discuss her journey in engineering, the importance of cybernetics, digital surveillance, and how to stay resilient in the age of AI. They also explore the benefits of collaborating with professional unions in technology governance.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/aiei-haugsbø

Space-based data is quite useful for observing environmental conditions, but, as Zhanna Malekos Smith writes in this "Ethical Article," it also raises privacy concerns for vulnerable populations.

To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/space-based-data-malekos-smith

In this episode of the "AI & Equality" podcast, Senior Fellow Anja Kaspersen speaks with Heather Roff, senior research scientist at the The Center for Naval Analyses. They cover the gamut of AI systems and military affairs, from ethics and history, to robots, war, and conformity testing. Plus, they discuss how to become alchemists of meaning in the digital age.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/aiei-roff

On World Refugee Day, Carnegie Council hosted a critical discussion on enhancing multilateral cooperation at the intersection of climate change and human mobility, the second event in the Council's "Unlocking Cooperation" series.

As extreme weather events and rising sea levels increasingly threaten coastal and island populations, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the panel will explore the urgent need for innovative and inclusive policies, guided by ethical considerations, to address climate-induced displacement and migration.

The discussion featured Ambassador Ali Naseer Mohamed, permanent representative of the Republic of Maldives to the UN, alongside experts from the...

In this "AI & Equality" podcast, guest host and AIEI board advisor Dr. Kobi Leins is joined by University of Washington's Professor Emily Bender for a discussion on systems, power, and how we are changing the world, one technological decision at a time. With a deep expertise in language and computers, Bender brings her perspective on how language and systems are being perceived and used—and changing us through automated systems and AI.

Why do words and linguistics matter when we are thinking about these emerging technologies? How can we more thoughtfully automate the use of AI?

...

After four years of showcasing how global news impacts your daily life, The Doorstep is signing off for the final time. For its last episode, co-hosts Tatiana Serafin and Nikolas Gvosdev were joined by New York Times reporter Peter Goodman to discuss his new book "How the World Ran Out of Everything" and how geopolitics is connected to the goods that literally end up on our doorstep.

From factories in Asia to farms in California and truck drivers in the Great Plains, this conversation delves into the fascinating innerworkings of America's supply chain and why it's in a...

How can thinking about the history of machine ethics inform the responsible development of AI and other emerging technologies? In a wide-ranging discussion with Carnegie Ethics Fellow Samantha Hubner, Carnegie-Uehiro Fellow Wendell Wallach, co-director of the Artificial Intelligence & Equality Initiative (AIEI), discusses the continued relevance of his re-released book "A Dangerous Master," the prospects for international governance around AI, why it's vitally important for the general public to be informed about these complex issues, and much more.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/aiei-hubner-wallach

Tom Nichols, staff writer at "The Atlantic" and professor emeritus at U.S. Naval War College, returns to "The Doorstep" in its penultimate episode to discuss the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election with co-hosts Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin. Will upcoming nominating conventions and presidential debates make a difference or have voters already made up their minds? How can the youth vote shake up the presidential race? What can we do to counter the influence of autocracies in the information war?

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/doorstep-nichols-2024

What are the ethical implications of undermining diplomatic immunity? In this "Ethical Article" University of Oxford's Corneliu Bjola discusses the impact of Ecuador's recent incursion into Mexico's embassy and Israel's airstrike on Iran's diplomatic compound in Damascus.

To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/eia-bjola

In this episode of the Artificial Intelligence & Equality podcast, Senior Fellow Anja Kaspersen engages with Raja Chatila, professor emeritus at Sorbonne University, exploring the integration of robotics, AI, and ethics. Chatila delves into his journey in the AI field, starting from his early influences in the late 1970s to his current work on global AI ethics, discussing the evolution of AI technologies, the ethical considerations in deploying these systems, and the importance of designing them skillfully and mindfully.

With a a focus on safety-first approaches over risk-focused frameworks, drawing parallels with other industries like aviation, Chatila advocates fo...

In collaboration with Marymount Manhattan College and their Social Justice Academy: Labor, Work, Action, Doorstep co-host Tatiana Serafin speaks with New York Times investigative reporter Megha Rajagopalan about human rights abuses in the global sugar trade and the challenges of holding governments and corporations accountable.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/doorstep-rajagopalan

AI safety and governance is much more advanced in China than is generally appreciated. The Chinese government and AI community are well-aware of the risks AI poses and are working to tackle them. International coordination is therefore quite possible.

In this Artificial Intelligence & Equality podcast, Carnegie-Uehiro Fellow Wendell Wallach discusses with Concordia AI's Kwan Yee Ng and Brian Tse how to build on the momentum from recent events such as the Bletchley Summit and the United Nations General Assembly AI resolution to establish global norms and standards for responsible AI development.

For more, please go t...

In this episode of the Artificial Intelligence & Equality podcast, Senior Fellow Anja Kasperson is joined by Hertie School's Professor Joanna Bryson to discuss the intersection of computational, cognitive, and behavioral sciences, and AI. The conversation delves into the intricate ways these fields converge to shape intelligent systems and the ethical dimensions of this emerging technology. Drawing on her academic background and practical experiences, Bryson provides valuable insights into the cognitive aspects of AI development and its societal impacts.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/aiei-bryson

This podcast was recorded on September 26, 2023.

In today's digitized world, our lives inexorably intertwine with cyberspace. We are exposed to damaging cyberattacks by foreign actors, local criminal gangs, and other nefarious entities. U.S. Naval War College's Derek Reveron and Brown University's John E. Savage join "Doorstep" co-hosts Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin to discuss their new book "Security in the Cyber Age" and how we can protect ourselves online.

How can we mitigate the harmful effects of AI? What are governments around the globe doing to secure individual user rights?

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/doorstep-reveron-savage

Today, eight of the world's most populous countries, or about 4 billion people, are led by politicians 70 years of age, or older. "Wall Street Journal" reporter Jon Emont joins "Doorstep" co-hosts Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin to discuss the systems and structures that keep aging leaders in power in both autocracies and democracies.

What do we lose when generational change is stifled? Can the world effectively address 21st century crises from pandemics, to melting ice caps, to technological advances with 20th century frameworks? Are we reaching a tipping point?

For more, please go to: carnegiecouncil.co...

How can Global South and Global North nations collaborate more effectively? What roadblocks hinder joint action on crucial issues such as security, development, climate, and AI? How can ethical reflection and engagement pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable multilateralism?

In the inaugural panel of Carnegie Council's "Unlocking Cooperation" series, moderator Ramu Damodaran discusses these pressing questions and more with leading experts.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/global-south-north

One of the core ethical and legal imperatives in warfare is the protection of civilians. With the vast majority of armed conflicts in the world today occurring between state and non-state actors, this has led to ambiguity around traditional battlefield lines, what laws apply, and who is viewed as liable to harm.

This virtual panel explored emerging ethical and legal questions surrounding the humanization of warfare, touching on issues of international law, just war, and how civilian protection can hinge on how we label a conflict. The event builds upon an essay published by Georgetown Law's Professor Mi...

In this probing discussion with Senior Fellow Arthur Holland Michel, Brianna Rosen, senior fellow at "Just Security" and the University of Oxford, discusses what we know (and what we don't) about Israel's use of AI in the war in Gaza and explains the fraught relationship between algorithmic decisions, transparency, and accountability. She also looks back at the last two decades of the U.S. drone strike program for clues about what the future of AI warfare might mean for justice and human rights.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/podcast-brianna-rosen

Which is more dangerous, open source AI or large language models and other forms of generative AI totally controlled by an oligopoly of corporations? Will open access to building generative AI models make AI more democratic? What other approaches to ensuring generative AI is safe and democratic are available?

Carnegie-Uehiro Fellow Wendell Wallach and Elizabeth Seger, director of the CASM digital policy research hub at Demos, discuss these questions and more in this Artificial Intelligence & Equality podcast.

For more from Seger, read her recent article on AI democratization: https://carnegiecouncil.co/aiei-seger

For mo...

As we begin to see the effects of AI on the American political process and society, where will this trajectory lead? In their new novel 2054, the follow-up to 2034, authors Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis imagine a moment when a radical leap forward in technology combines with America's violent partisan divide to create an existential threat to the country, and the world. How will the world's great powers react in a new era of scientific discovery?

In this virtual book talk three years after their discussion on 2034, Ackerman, Stavridis, and Doorstep co-hosts Nikolas Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin discus...

Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, joins Doorstep co-hosts Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin to discuss how culture influences the global battle between democracies and autocracies. What role do writers, artists, and scholars play in geopolitics and global diplomacy? How can national and international institutions develop stronger programs to protect creator voices? What do we lose if we fail to do so?

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/doorstep-nossel

In his speech at Carnegie Council, the UK Home Secretary, the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, outlined the range of opportunities and challenges faced by countries as a consequence of migration, calling for increased cooperation and innovation in addressing this global issue.

The Home Secretary's address was followed by a fireside chat and audience Q&A moderated by Joel Rosenthal, President of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs.

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/uk-home-secretary

Ahead of the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, McGill University's Maria Popova and Tufts University's Oxana Shevel, co-authors of Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories and Diverging States, join Doorstep co-hosts Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin to discuss shifting Ukraine-Russia war narratives and expectations.

How can Ukraine continue to rally support and challenge rising sentiment that Russia is "unstoppable"? What more can the media do to broaden perspectives and counter disinformation? What can we expect for Ukraine over the next year?

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/doorstep-popova-shevel

In this episode, Senior Fellow Anja Kaspersen speaks with Sam Gregory, executive director of WITNESS and a leading voice in human rights and civic journalism. Their discussion delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by synthetic data, AI-generated media, and deepfakes. Gregory discusses his pioneering "Prepare, Don't Panic" campaign and shares insights from his TED talk, "When AI Can Fake Reality, Who Can You Trust?" He emphasizes the importance of watermarking for data provenance and tackles the role of authenticity in today's digital landscape.

The conversation also covers the pressing need for global standards in AI governance...

Today, communities are experiencing the effects of the widespread adoption by law enforcement of data fusion technology: automated software for correlating and fusing surveillance data from a growing web of sources. Though this technology has received scant attention compared to other novel forms of surveillance, its civil liberties implications are grave.

This virtual panel discussion explores the impact of data fusion and examines critical ethical questions around its development and use. This panel was moderated by Carnegie Council Senior Fellow Arthur Holland Michel and featured an exclusive unveiling of a new educational tool to map the effects o...

Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent for Politico, returns to The Doorstep to discuss how chaos in domestic politics is weakening the United States on the world stage. How are far right Republicans undermining Secretary of State Antony Blinken's negotiations with Israel? What is the fate of President Biden's once heavily promoted omnipolicy or "foreign policy for the middle class"? Will there be another major black swan foreign policy crisis in 2024 that further upends U.S. standing?

For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/the-doorstep-nahal-toosi

In this "Ethical Article," Professor Abiodun Williams writes that the international order is facing a period of unusual turbulence and that "order with justice is an urgent imperative in our times."

To read this article, please go to carnegiecouncil.co/3ShAk2c. 

This Carnegie Council special event features a roundtable conversation with author Peter Osnos on human rights, security, and the legacy of the Helsinki Accords. Osnos is the founder of the publishing house PublicAffairs and is a former correspondent and editor for The Washington Post. His latest book is titled Would You Believe . . . The Helsinki Accords Changed the World? This event took place at Carnegie Council on January 24, 2024.

For more, please go to carnegiecouncil.org. 

Women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide. According to the latest United Nations data, only 11.3 percent of countries have women heads of state, and 9.8 percent have women heads of government. Representation at ministerial and local levels is higher but nowhere near parity leading to missing voices in national policymaking. With the globe enflamed in multiple crises from wars to climate disasters, new frameworks for cooperation are needed.

In the new English translation of her book on feminist foreign policy, activist and political scientist Kristina Lunz seeks to define what an innovative approach to global diplomacy l...

This special episode features Senior Fellow Anja Kaspersen in conversation with University College London's Professor Geoff Mulgan. They reflect on the year 2023, delve into trends shaping technology's impact on society, and discuss the critical interplay between science, governance, and power dynamics.

Mulgan, renowned for his work on technology's societal implications, shares insights from his varied career in policy, academia, and technology. They explore the evolving landscape of AI and its broader societal implications and the "billionaire problem," which underscores the urgent need for informed leadership and innovative institutional design in navigating these transformative times.

For...

In this Ethical Article, Visiting Fellow Zhanna L. Malekos Smith writes that quantum technology could usher in a "new era of computation." How can states, international institutions, and industries prepare?

To read this article, please go to carnegiecouncil.org. 

Judah Grunstein, editor-in-chief of World Politics Review, joins Doorstep co-hosts Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin for his annual review of global power shifts. With military and social conflicts pressuring nation-states, Grunstein discusses the fracturing, power vacuums, and identitarianism that will re-shape international politics in 2024. With nearly half the globe headed to the polls, major changes are on the horizon.

How will migration and extreme weather impact electorate demands? To what extent will organized labor shift economic paradigms? Will the Global South finally gain more influence vis-à-vis the Global North?

For more, please go to: http...

Many objections to solar radiation modification (SRM)--such as the fear it could undermine other forms of climate action--have been overtaken by events, says The Ministry of the Future author Kim Stanley Robinson in this C2GTalk. The world is in a growing crisis, and cutting and removing emissions is taking too long. It's time to learn whether SRM can help, and how to govern it.

Kim Stanley Robinson is an American science fiction writer. His books include the best-selling Mars trilogy, Red Moon, New York 2140, and The Ministry for the Future. He was part of the U.S. Nat...

More research is needed to explore all aspects of solar radiation modification, including the technology and its impact on society, says UNESCO's Assistant Director-General Gabriela Ramos. It is important to build public trust in the research by engaging a wide and inclusive cross-section of society, including people from the arts and humanities.

Gabriela Ramos is the assistant director-general for the social and human sciences of UNESCO, where she oversees the institution's contributions to building inclusive societies. Her mandate includes tackling economic inequalities of income and opportunity, and promoting social inclusion and gender equality

For more...

Celebrity and social media are changing the political game globally. Next year, 2024, will see more than 40 national elections from the U.S. to Mexico, India, Russia, and Taiwan; meanwhile 27 European Union nations will vote for 720 European Parliament seats.

Seton Hall University's Dr. Brandon Valeriano joins Doorstep co-hosts Tatiana Serafin and Nikolas Gvosdev to discuss the resurgence of soft power and what that means on the global stage. How will Taylor Swift, BTS, and Bad Bunny reshape our discussion of international affairs and social issues? What cybersecurity threats do we need to address as Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok t...

The world is due to exceed 1.5°C warming, and countries will face more extreme consequences in the near-term, warns Andy Reisinger in a C2GTalk. Significant levels of carbon dioxide removal will be required, and policies are needed to reduce adverse consequences. Solar radiation modification is more uncertain, and would reflect a failure of global governance to cut emissions.

Andy Reisinger is an independent consultant specializing in the science-policy interface of climate change, with particular expertise in livestock agriculture and the role of methane as part of mitigation strategies. He was vice-chair of Working Group III (Mitigation) of...

In this discussion with Senior Fellow Arthur Holland Michel, researcher and author Stephanie Hare describes the fundamental dimensions of technology ethics. She explains the importance of keeping the AI ethics discourse grounded in the needs and rights of those who will ultimately be most affected by the technology, and offers a few thoughts on how to brace—and empower—ourselves for the work that lies ahead.

For more, please go to carnegiecouncil.org. 

While there are certainly benefits, the breadth of concerns that AI, and particularly generative AI, pose for consumers is broad. And beyond privacy, governments are not doing much in the way of consumer protection. Furthermore, real protections will require worldwide standards and enforceable regulations.

In this far-reaching conversation, Helena Laurent, director general of Consumers International, and Senior Fellow Wendell Wallach outline the challenges.

For more, please go to carnegiecouncil.org. 

In this episode, host Hilary Sutcliffe explores . . . ethics from another angle, with Christian Hunt, author of Humanizing Rules: Bringing Behavioural Science to Ethics and Compliance.

It's mind-boggling how many principles and guidelines are available on creating ethical cultures or delivering ethical technologies. But these are often high level and abstract, easy to talk about, and hard to do. Hunt's book explores ethics not top down from the c-suite, but from the bottom up; using behavioral understanding and decades of hands-on experience to help organizations look at ethics from a human perspective, and design the rules and process t...

All eyes are on San Francisco today as U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet in a highly anticipated session during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit being held in the U.S. for the first time in 12 years. The tightly choreographed discussions are expected to lead to announcements on a diverse array of topics from re-starting climate talks to improving military to military communications and combating the fentanyl trade.

Bethany Allen, China reporter for Axios and author of Beijing Rules, joins Doorstep co-hosts Tatiana Serafin and Nikolas Gvosdev to discuss what motivates Xi and h...

It is important for scientists from the Global South to be engaged in research and discussions around solar radiation modification (SRM) because its potential impacts would affect everyone, says Inés Camilloni from the University of Buenos Aires. Researchers need to consider the risks of SRM against the risks of a dangerously warming planet. More research is needed, because the world currently does not know enough to make informed decisions.

Dr. Camilloni is currently associate professor at the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires, senior researcher of the National Scientific and T...

In this episode, host Hilary Sutcliffe explores . . . trustworthy tech development from another angle, investigating not just fresh thinking, but fresh doing. As part of her work on trust and technology governance, she seeks to understand the processes of those organizations who are taking trust and responsibility seriously from the start, and find out what they do and how they do it.

Sutcliffe explores the practicalities of how a company can provide evidence of trustworthiness with Julie Dawson, the chief policy and regulatory officer of global digital identity company Yoti.

For more, please go to carnegiecouncil.o...

In this discussion with Senior Fellow Arthur Holland Michel, Wired senior writer Will Knight reflects on a busy decade of reporting on artificial intelligence. Taking a step back from the hype (and a deep breath), Knight and Holland Michel discuss whether a true AI revolution is actually upon us, consider how the technology is and is not governable, and talk about the experience of coming face to face with a military robot.

For more on this talk, please go to carnegiecouncil.org. 

For more from Knight, check out his Wired archive.

Does a "national interest" articulated largely from a Washington, DC perspective connect with the "doorstep" interests and concerns of citizens across a large and diverse country? As we come to the end of several important cycles in world affairs—the close of the post-Cold War era and the beginning of the Fourth Industrial Revolution—how might a new generation of Americans redefine the goals and purpose of U.S. global engagement?

This special Doorstep episode was recorded live at The Ohio State University on Global Ethics Day.

For more, please go to carnegiecouncil.org. 

At Carnegie Council, we believe that cooperation is an essential virtue in the pursuit of an ethical life. And yet, it seems that cooperation is often absent from public life today. If we don't take steps to enhance cooperation—both in our personal lives and collectively as a society—there is little hope of addressing shared global challenges such as climate change, AI, political violence, and more.

In this keynote event for Global Ethics Day 2023, Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal led a conversation with MIT's Erez Yoeli and Tufts University's Abiodun Williams on the psychology behind cooperation; ways that...

In this episode, host Hilary Sutcliffe explores . . . technological progress from another angle. Does technology increase prosperity, make our lives better and create lots of new jobs? Or in reality does it promote greater inequality, more badly paid jobs and exploited workers, with the prosperity going to the few and not the many?

Sutcliffe explores with Professor Simon Johnson the lessons of over a thousand years of technological progress and they discuss the practicalities of what he calls a more "human complementary" approach to what technology may be.

Professor Johnson is an economist at MIT and...

In this Ethical Article, Visiting Fellow Zhanna Malekos Smith discusses China's effort in space and lunar exploration. As Xi Jinping tries to soften China's "wolf warrior" style of diplomacy, how is this reflected in its space policy?

To read this article, please go to carnegiecouncil.org. 

For ethics to be truly global, voices from all around the world need to be part of the international affairs discourse. And as these discussions still often begin in Western publishing houses and take shape in Global North classrooms, the academic world must make sure Global South perspectives are welcomed. 

Ahead of Global Ethics Day 2023, scholars from the Global South and North will come together to discuss the barriers to knowledge production in the academic world and how to bring new voices into the classroom, library, and bookstore. What are the structures and systems that need to be r...

Does a "national interest" articulated largely from a Washington, DC perspective connect with the "doorstep" interests and concerns of citizens across a large and diverse country? As we come to the end of several important cycles in world affairs—the close of the post-Cold War era and the beginning of the Fourth Industrial Revolution—Doorstep co-hosts Nick Gvosdev and Tatiana Serafin look at a new generation of Americans, who are working to redefine the goals and purpose of U.S. global engagement.

What are the ripple effects of the simultaneous challenges related to the "polycrises" (environmental shifts, inclu...

Young people need to learn more about solar radiation modification, and provide their inputs to governments, think tanks, and policymakers, says Brazilian climate activist Clara Botto, in this C2GTalk. "We need to have global conversations to address something that might have global impacts," she adds. That is why she and her colleagues have launched SRM Youth Watch, a global platform aimed at informing and bringing new communities into the debate.

Clara Botto has been engaged with sustainable development at a grassroots and international level, from arts to politics, for the past eight years. She is currently o...

Cities around the world are facing numerous climate-related challenges such as rising sea levels, flooding, and extreme heat. These challenges place significant strain on local economies and disproportionately impact the most vulnerable residents. The severity of the situation is further compounded by population growth within cities, with the UN projecting that nearly 70 percent of all people will reside in urban areas by 2050.

In order to support safe and sustainable urban environments, city leaders must urgently prioritize decarbonization and climate resiliency policies. However, there are complex ethical questions and tradeoffs that lawmakers must confront when planning for and...

In this Ethical Article, Visiting Fellow Arta Moeini analyzes the ongoing "Great Transition" in international affairs. With the U.S.-led "rules-based" world order seemingly at its endpoint, how can Western nations adapt?

To read this article, please go to carnegiecouncil.org. 

What does "foreign policy for the middle class" look like on the ground three years into President Biden's policy to integrate global and local concerns? Foreign Policy for America Foundation's Kristina Biyad joins Doorstep co-hosts Tatiana Serafin and Nikolas Gvosdev to discuss her new report "Intermestic Policy Initiative: Local Perspectives on U.S. Foreign Policy."

Biyad spent two years traveling, visiting five cities across the U.S. to speak with a diverse array of community leaders about what issues keep them up at night and how their concerns resonate globally. Her key takeaway: Local participants are eager to...

As world leaders gather in New Delhi for the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes India center stage. Jawaharlal Nehru University's Dr. Happymon Jacob joins Doorstep co-hosts Tatiana Serafin and Nikolas Gvosdev to assess what to expect from India's leadership on a vast array of global challenges from climate to green energy initiatives to the Ukraine-Russia war.

With China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin missing from the table, will India take the lead in representing the voices of the Global South? What opportunities are there for India and the U.S. to jointly shift the geop...