Keeping it Real(ism), with Assoc. Professor Paul Poast

For decades, America couched its foreign policy not only in the language of interests, but in universal values such as freedom and human rights. But what happens when that moral framing of liberal values falls away? From the streets of Caracas to the skies over Tehran, U.S. power is no longer justified through a narrative of liberal internationalism or advanced via appeals—even performative ones—to institutions such as the UN. Instead, Trump 2.0 has embraced a more explicit "might makes right" approach that rejects universality and leans into civilizational conflict between the West and the rest. Matias Spektor, professor and dean at Fundação Getulio Vargas's (FGV) School of International Relations, joins the Values & Interests podcast to examine the consequences of this shift in American power—and how U.S. foreign policy is being interpreted across the Global South, where many have long pointed to a gap between U.S. principles and its practices on the world stage. For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-spektor

Since the establishment of the Outer Space Treaty in 1967, space has been understood to be a "global commons" in which no country has sovereignty. But today, with over 90 countries and dozens of private companies operating in space—with the backdrop of a challenging and dangerous geopolitical environment on Earth—can actors still be expected to proceed "for the benefit of all"? In this Ethics Empowered: Leadership in Practice convening, an expert panel grapples with ethical questions on governance, militarization, and emerging technology in space. For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-empowered-space-matters

Since the establishment of the Outer Space Treaty in 1967, space has been understood to be a "global commons" in which no country has sovereignty. But today, with over 90 countries and dozens of private companies operating in space—with the backdrop of a challenging and dangerous geopolitical environment on Earth—can actors still be expected to proceed "for the benefit of all"? In this Ethics Empowered: Leadership in Practice convening, an expert panel grapples with ethical questions on governance, militarization, and emerging technology in space. For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-empowered-space-matters

Realism—the international relations theory centered on power, national interests, and anarchy—is having a political moment. From the halls of the Munich Security Conference to the pages of the U.S. National Security Strategy, "realism" has taken center stage in debates about U.S. foreign policy. But what does realism actually mean in a historical context, and how is it being applied today? Paul Poast, associate professor at The University of Chicago and nonresident fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to unpack the intellectual roots of realism, how the theory migrated into policy circles, and why today's geopolitical actors—including the Trump administration—are eager to brand their foreign policy as "pure realism." For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-poast

As moral relativists try to sanitize Trump's transgressive policies, Canada's Prime Minister Carney warns, "We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition." Listen to Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal in this "Ethical Article." To read this article, pleae go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/moral-rupture-rosenthal

Are power and empathy incompatible? Dr. Claire Yorke joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to discuss her new book, "Empathy in Politics and Leadership." Yorke showcases real-life examples of leaders who embraced empathy to build more inclusive power structures while simultaneously avoiding the politically disastrous trap of blind idealism. The episode unpacks zero-sum versus more inclusive models of power, the distinction between cognitive and emotional empathy, and why moral leadership grounded in empathy is necessary but insufficient on its own for open societies to thrive. Dr. Claire Yorke a senior lecturer at Deakin University, based in Canberra, and the author of "Empathy in Politics and Leadership" published by Yale University (2025). For more, go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-yorke

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 served as deputy national security advisor and deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2025-2026, she is a fellow at All Souls College at the University of Oxford. To download a copy of the lecture, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/kegley-lecture-avril-d-haines

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