Abstract

This article focuses on the problem of development of civil society in Kazakhstan in the period of contemporary global geopolitical changes and challenges. The paper investigates the specifics of civil society in post-communist nations, emphasizing that civil society was usually analyzed in the frameworks of democracy throughout the history of political thought. The study indicates several differences, which civil society can have in “young democracies” or “nations under political transit”. Furthermore, the paper traces back the history of civil society in Kazakhstan and underscores the interrelation of its development and problems it faced with changes in external environment, that is, system of international relations. The article analyzes the influence of contemporary geopolitical shift on civil society in Kazakhstan, potential changes in its components. In this investigation, the paper uses system analysis, comparative analysis, deduction and induction. The findings of the research suggest that despite huge crises and challenges, which occurred last two years, necessary preliminary conditions should exist in society to create efficient platform for vibrant civil society. 

Key words: civil society, transformation, post-communist, Kazakhstan, civic
activism, geopolitical, democracy.