Carnegie Council Podcasts

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

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 to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-madung

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