Perestroika, which started in 1985, laid the ground for reforms in Russia and its movement from the totalitarian USSR towards a country with several democratic parties, where people can travel abroad freely. (The Russian brides phenomenon was a result of opening borders; until January 1993 citizens couldn’t leave the country without an “exit visa”.)

But the majority of Russians have a negative view on reforms that began in 1985, a recent public opinion poll revealed. 1 in 4 Russians consider themselves victims of Perestroika, and 1 in 2 wish it never happened.

Russians: Perestroika brought more bad than good

This is the view of 61% of respondents to the recent poll by The All Russian Public Opinion Research Centre.

Men are more negative than women in this regard: 68% of male respondents support this view, while only 55% of females think so.

• People aged 45-59 have the most pessimistic opinion about USSR reforms: 3 in 4 (75%) view them as harmful.
• Among the young group aged 18-24, only 31% of survey takers support this view.
• The gloomy view is also more typical among people who believe to be well aware of the details (73%). Only 24% among the participants who said they don’t know and haven’t heard about Perestroika think that it brought more bad consequences than good ones.

In 2002, 76% of Russians stated that Perestroika brought more bad than good.

However, in just 3 years (by 2005) the number of pessimists dropped to 54%. The views remained relatively stable for the next decade, however, in 2019 the share of people thinking negatively of the reformation initiatives jumped to 61%.

• 47% of respondents think they are well aware of the details of the process called Perestroika.
• 48% of respondents said they know something but without details.
• 5% of survey takers said they don’t know and haven’t heard about Perestroika. It’s quite remarkable, considering it’s one of the most important events in the recent Russian history. Among the group 18-24, 18% of respondents stated they don’t know what it is.

It seems that the worse are the economic conditions in the country, the more reforms of 1985 are to blame for the problems, in people’s minds.

Why was Perestroika bad for Russia?

• The major problem brought by this event was the increase in chaos and confusion in governing the country: 40% of participants think so.
• Lack of confidence in the future became stronger, 37% of poll takers stated.
• 30% of participants point out to deepening of the economic crisis.
• 27% mentioned weakening of the country’s defence ability.
• Crisis of relations between various nations was mentioned by 26% of participants.

Why was Perestroika good for Russia?

Fewer people talked about good things that came from the reforms that started in 1985.

• Widening of the political rights and freedoms was mentioned by 12% of poll participants.
• 12% of respondents pointed out to the increase in political activity of people.
• 12% of survey takers said it was the start of the regeneration of the economy of the country.
• 8% mentioned strengthening of the political positions of Russia.
• 6% have noticed the renaissance of the country’s nations.

Victims of Perestroika

In total, 25% of respondents stated they consider themselves “victims of Perestroika”.

• Naturally, the share of such responses is higher among people aged 60+ (37%).
• However, even in the age group 18-24 8% of respondents say they consider themselves victims.

Recently the Russian Parliament (Duma) proposed to introduce a new social category of “victims of Perestroika” that would get some privileges in a way similar to war veterans. The votes of Russians on the matter split nearly equally: 41% support the initiative, while 47% are against it.

Half of Russians wish Perestroika never happened

• 49% of respondents to the poll support the view that it would be better for Russia if everything was left the same as before the reforms of 1985.
• 44% of participants think otherwise.

Only 36% of the people living in cities with population 1 million people and over think it would be better if changes of 1985 never happened. Among participants living in villages, 53% support this view.

Similar dynamics can be seen in the breakdown by age: Younger people don’t think it would be better if reforms of 1985 never took place. Only 1 in 3 people aged 18-34 thinks so (36%). Among people aged 45-59, 59% have USSR nostalgia. They were 11-25 in 1985, and 17-31 when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

What would it be like if Gorbachev didn’t instigate changes in the USSR in 1985? One thing for sure, the world would be a different place today.

Data: WCIOM.ru

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