Modern society is described through various concepts such as «civil», «post-industrial»,  «informational», and «inclusive». The comparative characteristics of these types of societies reflect the specific features of each of them, while at the same time there is a certain interconnection between them. It is of particular interest to analyze the historical, cultural, socio-economic, and political-legal conditions shaping the regional characteristics of individual countries, taking into account the diversity of development in modern societies.

Many studies examine the social responsibility of small businesses; however, insufficient attention has been paid to the political views of small business representatives and the political aspects of their social responsibility. The main objective of this study is an empirical analysis of the contribution of small businesses to the formation of civil society in Kazakhstan, since the development of their social responsibility is an important criterion of civil society. The study also aims to identify ideological priorities and development prospects based on the perspectives of small business representatives.

The article examines the stages of civil society development in Kazakhstan, the features of the market economy, the role of small business as an important potential of modern society, and issues related to the democratization of society as a whole. The current state of civil society in Kazakhstan is analyzed based on the results of a survey conducted among small business entities. The research was carried out using a quantitative method, and 701 respondents participated in the survey.

The results of the study revealed that representatives of small businesses consider the development of a society that fosters civic consciousness to be one of the most important ideological issues for Kazakhstani society. The study also showed that, in addition to economic responsibility, small business owners are concerned with issues related to civil society.