The Phenomenon of Soviet Factory Sociology (Based on Biysk City)

In: Sociologičeskij žurnal: Sociological journal, Band 29, Heft 4, S. 169-186

Abstract

This article is devoted to such a scientific and social phenomenon of the Soviet era as factory sociology. The history of the formation and decay of this extremely interesting applied discipline is traced using the example of Biysk city, one of the leading centers of the Soviet defense industry in the 1960's – 1980's. The article is based on the personal memories of Sergey Orlov and Lyudmila Mrachkovskaya, who in the 1970's and 1980's worked as factory sociologists at such large enterprises as the Research and Production Association "Altai", the Biysk Chemical Combine, and the Biysk Oleum Plant. Publications of the corporate newspaper of the Biysk Oleum Plant "Za progress" ("For Progress") have been introduced into scientific circulation as a new source of information about the work of factory sociologists, and this helps in understanding problems that were of concern for the management of Soviet enterprises. In conclusion, several hypotheses are put forward to indicate the horizon for further research on the topic of factory sociology.