The Roots and Routes of Democracy and Extremism is the first book published to comprehensively explore the underlying dimensions of promotion of democracy and containment of extremism in the most turbulent areas of the world. The articles cover such controversial issues as the different characteristics of emerging democratic institutions, minority rights, development, the practical applications of the rule of law, and the importance of growing democracy within the countries-in-transition rather than importing democracy from abroad. The book is the result of the joint effort of the US National Academies and the Aleksanteri Institute of the University of Helsinki. The articles of this book are based on the multinational workshop hosted by the Office of the Prime Minister of Finland and the Haikko Manor in Porvoo, Finland, October 10-12 2005. The workshop was attended by officials and experts from 10 countries facing the mounting threats of extremism. This book paves the way for a new kind of dialogue between different cultures and civilizations to reduce the emerging destructive phenomenon of extremism in our modern societies. It aims to promote democracy in all its forms in a sustainable and constructive manner, respecting the existing religious, cultural and political environments