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title: "U.S. Power and Principle: A Seismic Shift for Geopolitics"
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Friend, read the January edition of the Carnegie Ethics Newsletter which explores the shifting relationship between power and principle.

| View in browser 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.   Access the Lecture 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. Read the Article 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. Listen to the Podcast 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.” Read the Brief 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. Read the Spotlight Follow Carnegie Council on social media for event announcements, polls, analysis, and more. Unsubscribe Manage Preferences ©2026 Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs 170 East 64th Street, New York, New York 10065, United States, 212-838-4120 |
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