The Center for Democratic Culture derives its philosophy from American pragmatism, which regards democracy as an ongoing experiment in collective living and institution building. The CDC promotes civic education and civility in public discourse through research, scholarly exchange, and community-based programs. It works closely with local organizations in staging forums on the problems of democracy, conducting seminars on the issues central to local community, developing innovative programs in civic education, and building ties to fledgling democracies. Additionally, the CDC serves as a clearing house for UNLV faculty and students conducting research on the historical experience of American democracy and its relevance to contemporary society at home and abroad.