Soviet Cooperators Image Dynamics in Public Discourse during Perestroika Period.

After the resolution of cooperative movement, many private enterprises appeared in the USSR. They offered goods and services that the state enterprises could not provide. Because of the introduction of market elements into the administrative-planned economic system and broad spreading of cooperative business in the USSR during Perestroika period, cooperative movement was sharply discussed by Soviet people in terms of its compatibility with socialist order. This paper investigates the image of cooperators in Soviet society and the dynamics of opinions transformation during Perestroika period. This research is based on the analysis of private letters from citizens to the deputies of the Supreme Council Union of the USSR, materials from the most replicable Leningrad daily newspapers “Vecherny Leningrad” and “Smena” for 1987-1991 years, the recording of TV program Vzglyad “About cooperation in the USSR” of 27.10.1989 and interviews with former cooperators. From this research, following findings emerge: contrary to the prevailing position in historiography, attitude toward cooperators was dynamic and changeable during Perestroika period. Pointing out at disadvantages of cooperators work, people were prone to criticize the political power for the disregard of socialist values, on the one hand, and for the slow transition to market economy, on the other hand. Moreover, public opinion about cooperative movement changed during Perestroika period: during 1988-1989, people were more likely to complain about their disadvantages than in the next two years.