Welcome!

I’m thrilled to share the first edition of my President’s Desk Newsletter, where I’ll be doing my best to translate ethics, analyze democracy, and examine our increasingly interconnected world.

I believe that ethics is at the heart of our greatest global challenges, and that we must do more to empower ethics—not just as a tool for philosophers or academics, but as an active process that can help provide direction to our daily lives and respectful structure to public debate.

This newsletter will shine a light on the individuals, issues, and questions at the heart of international affairs and ethics. Be sure to subscribe to stay up to date.

Thanks for reading,

Joel H. Rosenthal, President

They Said What?
“Are you ready to close the UN? Do you think that the time of international law is gone? If your answer is no, then you need to act immediately.

. . .  if your current format is unalterable and there is simply no way out, then the only option would be to dissolve yourself altogether.” 

Last month, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy took the UN to task for its inaction on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The speech was a double indictment—first, against Russia’s aggression, and second, against the UN’s lack of response.

Zelenskyy’s calling out of the UN is a painful reminder of the Security Council’s serial failures and its inherent flaws. Perhaps most damning is the recognition that in its current form, it cannot be fixed.

Zelenskyy’s speech is an instant classic because it draws lines that must be drawn. Russia’s war crimes—un-refutable and happening in real time—require a clear response, backed by action. And while the UN provides the venue for the expression of values, its inability to translate its core values into action remains a core truth that cannot be evaded.

Whether Zelenskyy’s speech serves as a rallying cry to action and reform, or confirmation of a bleak future for the UN, remains to be seen. In the meantime, the echoes of his moral argument will ring in our ears. 

It’s Time for Ethics Re-envisioned.
Given the troubling state of international affairs, Ukraine included, there is reason to be greatly concerned about how ethics is framed, co-opted, or in some instances completely ignored across public and private life.

Ethical argument these days usually takes the form of righteous indignation and moral certainty. Everything is binary. We live in a zero-sum, winner-take-all society—ethics included. In this context, if you disagree with me, not only are you wrong but you are also a bad person.

To meet this moment, I’ve partnered with Carnegie-Uehiro Fellow Wendell Wallach to propose a genuine re-envisioning of ethics as a tool for decision-making in this era of “alternative facts” and disruptive technologies. We invite you to read our roadmap for an ethical future.  

Does Democracy vs. Autocracy Miss the Point?

Conventional wisdom has it that we are now in a contest between democracy and autocracy. But Jean-Marie Guéhenno, former UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, is a contrarian: “Something more important is happening,” he says, pointing to the revolution of data, the rise of the Internet, and the uses of artificial intelligence. “I believe we are on the cusp of an earthquake in the history of humanity that happens only once in hundreds of years.”

In his latest must-read piece, professor Guéhenno lays out why we need to go beyond democracy vs. autocracy as our frame of reference. 

Resisting Despair

I found this recent podcast discussion between Vox’s Sean Illing and Professor Robert Zaretsky to be insightful and inspiring. They reflect on novelist Albert Camus’ writing—especially “The Myth of Sisyphus”—to shed light on the rather dark moment we are in. I certainly agree that taking a stand against barbarism still has the potential to unite and provide meaning today. Illing selects an apt quote from Camus to conclude: “Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.” 

News from Carnegie Council

We’ve launched a new website! Be sure to visit CarnegieCouncil.org, where you can sign up for our free events, access the latest thought leadership from our senior fellows, and view a plethora of multimedia materials on ethics and international affairs, including podcasts, videos, and reports.

Have a suggestion for future newsletters? Tweet us @CarnegieCouncil using #EthicsEmpowered.

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