April 30, 2026

“Values without epistemic humility become ideology.” – Aarathi Krishnan, CEO, Raksha Intelligence Futures

To practice applied ethics in geopolitics today, one must act like a moral-political Swiss Army knife. Ethics requires the self-awareness to examine your own values system and the humility to engage in good faith with others who may prioritize different values across communities, cultures, and states . . . all without falling into the trap of moral relativism.

It is this constant assessment of the moral and political tradeoffs baked into decisions—and an awareness of the intentions behind them, the means used, and the consequences of your actions, intended and unintended—that provides an ethical framework for facing the daunting geopolitical questions of this moment.

In the latest episode of the Values & Interests podcast, Aarathi Krishnan, CEO of Raksha Intelligence Futures and a multi-decade veteran of the international aid space, discussed how she centers her moral-political framework amid significant global uncertainty.

The full episode is available on YouTube and by subscribing to “Carnegie Council” wherever you stream your podcasts.

The Ethics of AI Agents in Global Governance

The integration of AI agents within multilateral and diplomatic spaces is presenting new questions and challenges. How can international affairs practitioners and the next generation of ethical leaders stay true to their values amid this new geopolitical reality? In this Ethics Empowered: Leadership in Practice event, Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, New York State’s chief AI officer, led a discussion on this pressing issue.

Still time to sign up for “Values & Interests: Nuclear Ethics” on May 19!

Humanitarian Aid for Minerals: Trump’s Transactional Statecraft and the Weaponization of Dependency

In this Online Exclusive article from Ethics & International Affairs, Oxford’s Ben Hazelton writes that the Trump administration’s decision to curtail USAID—framed as an “America First” policy—has changed the value calculus of aid itself, transforming it from “ostensibly humanitarian assistance to explicitly transactional arrangements.” With Zambia as a case study, what are the consequences of this change in approach?

A Conversation with Carnegie Ethics Fellow Harsh Suri

As co-founder and CEO of The Geostrata, a youth-led independent policy and research think tank based in India, Suri has made sure that the organization follows its values as it strives to make an impact in geopolitical analysis. He also details how interactions with the Carnegie Ethics Fellows cohort and access to the community of Carnegie Council experts have added to his moral framework as he grows his organization.

Reflections from Uehiro-Carnegie Endowment for Future Generations Study Tour of Japan

In November 2025, Carnegie Council fellows and staff took part in the first study tour sponsored by the newly established Uehiro-Carnegie Endowment for Future Generations, visiting several cities in Japan. With an itinerary designed and managed by the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education in Tokyo, the tour reaffirmed the shared values between the two organizations and their commitment to using ethics and education to build a better world.

The 13th annual Global Ethics Day will take place on October 21, 2026! Stay tuned for an announcement next month on this year’s theme.