SOCIAL LICENSE TO OPERATE FOR LARGE BUSINESSES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

Abstract

This article analyzes rural residents' perceptions of the activities of major industrial enterprises and assesses the preconditions for the formation of what is known as a "social license to operate" in three settlements of the Abai region: Aktogay, Zhezkent, and Kopa. Based on a mass survey of 318 residents, the study examines awareness of the region's main mining operator, trust in enterprise management, the effectiveness of various communication channels between the population, authorities, and business, as well as residents' expectations regarding corporate social responsibility (hereinafter — CSR). It was established that trust and willingness to acknowledge business contributions to territorial development vary noticeably between settlements and are determined not only by the volume of investment but also by the regularity and format of communication. Across all three villages, resident meetings and communication through the akimat (local administration) proved to be the most stable channels of interaction, whereas individual appeals and digital channels remain largely ineffective. The article concludes that differentiated, targeted strategies for building relationships between business and local communities are needed, and offers practical recommendations for CSR programs and public-private partnerships.