Welcome to the USC Center for Diversity and Democracy!

How can great metropolises trascend the conflicts between their diverse groups while strengthening democratic and just communities in their neighborhoods and throughout their cities?

Hosting communities from every culture on Earth, the great global cities often experience ethnic and religious tensions, violence, economic inequality, and wrenching cultural transformation. The "melting pot" metaphor no longer describes how diverse urban communities interact, and new models must be developed for how people of diverse backgrounds will coexist and share the public life of their great urban centers. 

How will cities rewrite the social contract? And what role will urban universities play in this movement toward crafting a new relationship between diversity and democracy? 

The USC Center for Diversity and Democracy engages these questions through research, teaching, and civic engagement with communities all over metropolitan Los Angeles, the United States, and the across world. We welcome you to explore the information and networks on this website and get involved in our important work.