Democracy as a Moral Principle

Can cooperation remain a source of influence in an era of growing competition? Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Bulgaria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, joined "Values & Interests" during the week of the UN General Assembly to explore the nature of power in international affairs and the importance of pragmatism when working through geopolitical issues. Petrova-Chamova details how her time as a scientist during the COVID-19 pandemic affects how she approaches her work today. From delivering tangible results for citizens to balancing principles with political realities, the conversation examines how ethical considerations inform foreign policy decisions. Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

As new technologies transform the way wars are fought, the ethical and humanitarian stakes of armed conflict continue to evolve. With the rise of cyber and hybrid warfare, as well as the development of lethal autonomous weapons systems, what has been lost in ethical thinking about war as it moves further away from human experience? How can we revisit and adapt our moral frameworks to restore the voices of soldiers, veterans, and civilian victims of warfare? This "Ethics Empowered: Leadership in Practice" discussion was moderated by Adam Read-Brown, Carnegie Council's executive editor and director of journal programming. For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-empowered-listening-to-conflict

How has private wealth accumulation by a select few undermined both U.S. democracy and global security? Author and journalist Casey Michel joins "Values & Interests" to discuss his book, "United States of Oligarchy." Drawing on Aristotle's definition of oligarchy and the legacy of the Gilded Age, Michel argues that a small number of wealthy Americans are not only reshaping domestic politics but effectively privatizing U.S. foreign policy. From technology leaders' ties to authoritarian governments to the intersection of private investment and diplomacy, the conversation examines what happens when personal ambitions displace public responsibilities. What distinguishes today's billionaires from earlier generations of American industrialists? And how might reforms to campaign finance, taxation, and financial transparency help restore democratic accountability? Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

Freedom House CEO Jamie Fly and Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal interrogate why democracy is both a moral and a political principle, the regression of freedom globally, and the effects of emerging tech on political processes and institutions. What can be done to counter the rise of authoritarian and anti-democratic forces? Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

In this "Ethical Article," Kathleen Egan reviews Michael Russell Gunn's "The Brink of War." She discusses issues related to nuclear ethics in the film, which depicts the 1986 Reykjavik Summit between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-on-film-brink-of-war 

What does ethical leadership require in an era of polarization, institutional distrust, and geopolitical upheaval? In this episode of "Values & Interests," Kevin Maloney speaks with Noah Bopp, founder of The School for Ethics and Global Leadership, about educating the next generation for public life. Reflecting on the legacy of 9/11, the decline of civic institutions, and the challenges facing Gen Z, Bopp argues that today's young people have a strong moral compass but often lack the institutions and relationships needed to navigate an increasingly complex world. Drawing on philosophy, history, and decades of experience educating future leaders, Bopp explores the value of pluralism, good-faith dialogue, mentorship, and ethical accountability. How do we teach ethical judgment without prescribing ideology? What responsibilities do educators and institutions have in a fractured public sphere? And how can hope itself become a form of leadership? Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

Artificial intelligence is increasingly framed as an unstoppable force that will reshape economies, societies, and even human civilization. But what if that narrative is part of the problem? In this episode of "Values & Interests," Virginia Dignum, professor of responsible artificial intelligence at Umeå University and author of "The AI Paradox," traces the interests behind today's AI race, from the economics driving it to the moral questions raised by the Vatican's recent AI document. Dignum challenges the idea that AI is inevitable, arguing that technology does not simply happen to us: It reflects deliberate human decisions about what we build, who benefits, and what kind of future we want to create. Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

What makes power endure? University of Bonn's Hendrik W. Ohnesorge explores the relationship between influence, values, and international leadership, arguing that attraction and legitimacy often outlast coercion and force. Drawing on examples from classical antiquity, literature, and modern geopolitics, he traces the evolution of soft power and its role in shaping international affairs. As leaders increasingly favor transactional and nationalist approaches, Ohnesorge considers the rise of "post-liberal" soft power. What are the long-term consequences of this shift? And what role do values such as moderation, prudence, and courage play in sustaining influence? Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

Iran and the United States have been adversaries for decades. But caught in the middle are the 92 million Iranians with "90 million opinions" on their government, foreign intervention, and state of their society. In this episode of "Values & Interests," Neda Bolourchi, senior non-resident fellow at the Institute for Global Affairs at Eurasia Group, draws on history and personal values to explore competing visions of change in Iran, the enduring strength of the current regime, and the realities that often get lost in debates about intervention and national sovereignty. Read Bolourchi's recent article for Carnegie Council: https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/media/article/iran-is-not-venezuela Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

In the last twenty years rights and liberties have eroded across more of the world than they have advanced. The cumulative effect is a transformed international order in which authoritarian governments are more assertive and the democracies that shaped the postwar system are at risk of diminishing influence. Yana Gorokhovskaia, research director at Freedom House, joins the Values & Interests podcast to discuss the findings of the latest Freedom in the World report and the challenges democracies face as the norms that once anchored the international system come under increasing strain. Read Freedom House's latest Freedom in the World report. Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast