Abstract
The study examines the tendencies and motivations for people to join terrorist groups by examining the relationship between the political regime and citizens' discontent with authority. Central Asia is used as an example because for many years this region has been seen as a source of large numbers of volunteers joining terrorist groups in neighboring Afghanistan as well as in Syria. The review of existing literature is used to study this topic. The study found that dissatisfaction with the authorities, corruption, low living standards and opposition from the state, rather than their ideological views, were among the important factors that encouraged people to join extremist groups.