January 22, 2026

As the Trump administration takes unilateral action in Venezuela, threatens Iran and Greenland, and advances a new foreign policy vision at Davos, America’s post–World War II calculus guiding the relationship between power and principle has shifted dramatically. The result is a moment in which U.S. leaders may no longer be asking a vital question at the intersection of ethics and international relations: power . . . but to what end?

This defining question of ethical realism is perhaps best captured by Hans Morgenthau in 1948 as he reflected on the geopolitical considerations and ethical responsibilities of a liberal democracy (the U.S.) sitting atop a new international system: “The choice is not between moral principles and the [U.S.] national interest, devoid of moral dignity, but between one set of moral principles divorced from political reality and another set of moral principles derived from political reality.”

Today, as a new dynamic between U.S. power and principle plays out on the world stage, we hope the following Carnegie Council resources help you to reflect on and digest the news of this moment through the lens of applied ethics.

Rejecting the Bareness of Realism and Revisiting the Wisdom of E. H. Carr

During our latest Ethics Empowered: Leadership in Practice event, Scott Silverstone, professor of international relations at West Point, argued that the realism of famed British political scientist and diplomat E. H. Carr is often misunderstood. Instead, a deeper reading of Carr offers the understanding that power, when pursued alongside more peaceful progress, provides a vital lesson for this moment in geopolitics.

Be sure to register for the next virtual Ethics Empowered event on Feb. 19 at 8:30am ET: Why Space Matters and How to Govern It.

Former U.S. Director of National Intelligence on the Ethics of Decision-Making 

Avril Haines, former director of national intelligence under President Joe Biden, recently visited Carnegie Council to reflect on the critical need to build an ethical culture of decision-making in national security. Drawing from her extensive career in public service, Director Haines offered key insights into the importance of values, how to defend ethical norms, and pathways for next-gen leaders at this vital moment in international affairs.  

More on Ethics & National Security

Trump, Territory, and Greenland: Mixed Claims for Ownership, Rights, and Control

In this Online Exclusive article from the Ethics & International Affairs journal, Sune Lægaard, associate dean at Denmark’s Roskilde University, discusses the Trump administration’s claim on Greenland through a historical and ethical lens. Though written in the first month of Trump’s second term, this essay remains critical reading as the administration has renewed its threats on the island.

Interrogating Our “Norms” with Professor Tanisha Fazal

Tanisha Fazal, professor of political science at the University of Minnesota and Carnegie Council Next-Gen Advisory Board member, joined the Values & Interests podcast to discuss shifting geopolitical norms in a moment of significant transition. Be sure to subscribe to “Carnegie Council” wherever you stream.

Operation Absolute Resolve: Hemispheric Dominance under the Monroe Doctrine

Writing for the Institute of Peace & Diplomacy, Carnegie Council’s Kevin Maloney discusses new foreign policy narratives emanating from the Trump administration: “Whether on the pages of the National Security Strategy (NSS) or in the latest press briefing, the administration is shaping and projecting new U.S. foreign policy narratives—ones that reject the efficacy of liberal values and associated principles vis-à-vis U.S. national interests.”

A Conversation with Carnegie Ethics Fellow Denver Barrows 

From serving in the military to scaling electric vehicle infrastructure at Amazon, Barrows has navigated complex decision-making challenges in high-stakes environments. Now, through the Fellowship, he's exploring how institutions can set the tone for ethical leadership by creating space for thoughtful, good-faith discussions.