The sociological survey was conducted in 7 villages situated on the coast of the Pskovsko-Chudskoe Lake during July and August 1998. The survey was entitled "Social problems of the informal economic development in the coastal villages of Pskovsko-Chudskoe lake" (this survey was financially supported by the Russian Scientific Humanitarian Fund). The research was aimed at studying the forms of economic strategies of the rural population during the Reforms. Since this area has recently become a part of the Russian-Estonian border, some questions were related to the attitudes of the local community towards these changes. In particular, we wanted to find out what people thought about the lake as a border zone and whether their everyday life somehow changed.

This article discusses the results of this research. When studying the perception of the border and the border guards by the local population, it turned out that the border had lost the meaning it used to have during the times of the USSR. Not so long ago, the words "the border is locked" meant that the world was divided into two parts. We were on one side and the enemies were on the other side. The border was a thin stripe of land between those two parts and some "mythic heroes" were on guard. Their image was presented and made clear to us by a number of films from our childhood. Now this image, especially for the inhabitants of the mentioned area, is different. The border guards are now people who have to deal with the same problems as the others. Due to the money deficit they have to breed pigs, work in the gardens, go fishing and gather berries and mushrooms. It is clear that in this situation the image of the border guard and the border itself becomes less severe. One of the respondents when asked the question "What is your attitude towards the border guards?" said: "They are here like in a resort". The image of the border, established in the 1920s was completely opposite. One elderly woman recalled: "A border guard was standing on the coast line with a gun. The entire coast was ploughed and women could not do the laundry in the lake".

The transformation of the attitude towards the border among the population is a very interesting phenomenon. We can see the fall of the extremely structured space, established at the times when the Soviet Union was regarded as a communal body and a living organism. The disintegration of this communal "body" changed the images of myth and reality in people's minds. Although people are calm about the loss of such vast territories as the Ukraine and Kazakhstan, the Kurillskie Islands suddenly have become the symbol of expressing Russian territorial integrity. In our case, speaking about people on the border, we can see that their mentality has undergone big changes. Due to this, the image of the Russian State bears nowadays an abstract character. We can suppose that the fact of border crossing helps to get rid of the complex division of the worlds into two parts. It is quite obvious, that when the contacts with people from another state become a daily routine, symbolic alienation disappears. In addition, the mysterious word "foreigner" is used now to define the former compatriots.

At the same time, the majority of the population in described area got used to the idea that the times when the Estonian territories were part of their life are gone.

The survey showed that practically all the respondents understand that the time cannot be turned back, primarily, because of the position of the Estonian authorities, though there were no direct negative responses towards the Estonians. The question "What was the attitude of the Estonians towards you?" was usually answered "Good, we used to fish together". It is easy to understand since people on the other side of the lake have to deal with the same problems.

Not long ago, people used to have quite close relations. None of the respondents recalled a conflict between the people from the different sides. Some of the respondents mentioned some ideas which they learnt from the mass media and which were similar to the Russian-Latvian problem of Russia-Latvia (the embargo problem with Latvia was discussed on the TV at that time).

It is a completely different problem, when we speak about forced migrants. There are many of them in Petchory. They claim infringement of non-Estonians rights there, which was one of the reasons for their migration. At the same time, their everyday problems in Russia were even worse, than in Estonia.

At the daily perception level, the majority of the respondents regret about the formation of the border: "I was in Estonia not long ago, people there are sorry that we were divided. They (the Estonians) say, that the kolkhozs (communal farms) are in ruins in their country too." Besides, it caused serious problems to appear. For example, population of the villages situated between the strait of Pskovsko-Chudskoe Lake has no access to the outside world. It is caused by the fact, that this territory is swampy and the roads in the Pskov Region cannot be used for most of the year.

On the "Pirisariy" island (here, we mean the island "Pijrisaar", which belongs to Estonia now) or in other Estonian cities mixed marriages occurred and the holidays were celebrated together. If there was a need to go to Pskov or Petchory, people would go via Estonia, because that way was easier and quicker. One of the respondents said: "We went to Estonia six times a day", all purchases were done there. One woman recalled: "We went there to watch movies and to the club. There was a crossing, people used it and got all things there". There was also a hospital (settlement Mekhikoorma) and school. Local people sold the vegetables there: apples, cucumbers and onions.

The border broke the cultural and economic links - fishing became a problem. The local fishermen say: "Fish does not know the borders" and in the past fishermen fished in certain parts of the lakes: "in spring the Estonians came to us and in autumn we went to them". In particular, we stopped catching "ryapushka" (kind of fish), because it is found in Estonian waters. The fishermen from the island Zalit say that there were cases when they were caught and fined by the Estonian border guards. Usually it happens to private fishermen who fish in the foreign part of the lake. Though it is very difficult to define where you are on the lake.

We must admit that the border question practically disappeared in the Petchory Region in the Krupp village. The villagers have the right to cross the border without the visa during the holidays and weekends to visit the church and the cemetery which are on the territory of Estonia. In addition, they can stay there up to 3 days. At the same time, there is a problem with the relatives who do not live in this zone, for example, those who come from Petchory and other regions of Pskov.

Apart from the negative attitude, many of the people mention several advantages which have appeared lately. One of them is the presence of the border guards who help to establish order and reduce the crime-level.

Another positive moment comes from the demographic analysis in different parts of the region. In the Kruppskaya volost (Petchory Region) there is a relatively high level of youth and they are not going to leave. If many villages have no future, the possibilities to cross the border freely extend the perspectives and living space for the young people. But this factor can not be explained from the economic perspective.

At the moment the inhabitants of Krupp and its administration are initiating the construction of a new church. The head of the administration was replaced at the end of the spring. But this problem does not relate much to the population.

The border particularly influences the informal economy. Smuggling is a traditional way of criminal activity. Several years ago it was one of the main ways to earn money for the local population. After the formation of the border a number of people involved in this business decreased and people profit from renting their facilities to people who have personal interest abroad.

In general, the population profits from the border regulations, for example, gathering berries and mushrooms close to it. According to the obtained information, some families regard this job seriously, so it has a permanent character.

In conclusion, we will emphasise several moments:

1. The current situation in the border region has led to the perception of the border and border guards not in a mythical, but in a practical way.
1. The formation of the border between Russia and Estonia has led to some serious social problems. They are reflected in the break of social connections and living space. The border differs greatly from the border with other republics of the former USSR, its form and content are similar the external border of the USSR. At the same time, we can conclude that these problems can be solved - as, for example, in the village Krupp.
1. The border influences the form of economic behaviour of the population and the demographic situation. In their daily activities people use the possibilities that have opened due to the border. Border area is more attractive to live and it affects the demographic situation.