Portrait of Hans J. Morgenthau by O. Donnandi.
May 22, 1987
Harvard University
Leading international relations theorist Stanley Hoffmann argues that the greatest danger to ethical thinking in international affairs is "disembodied idealism," i.e., attempts to pose ethical solutions to political problems without first coming to grips with states and their interests. Like Hans Morgenthau, he links ethics with political realism.
MAY 6, 2026 • Podcast
Watch/listen to the latest "Values & Interests" podcast featuring Gilles Michaud, UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security.
MAY 1, 2026 • Video
James Story, former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, visits Carnegie Council to discuss the new dynamic between American power and principle.
APR 21, 2026 • Video
Watch this "Ethics Empowered" event, in which an expert panel grapples with the challenges of AI agents in multilateral and diplomatic spaces.
