The simplest theory of swelling and collapse has been developed for weakly charged polyelectrolyte networks in solutions of ionogenic micelle-forming surfactants (SFT) whose charge is the opposite of that on the network. In calculating the free energy of the system, account is taken both of contributions on the part of the energy of interaction of network units, the energy of micelle formation, and the network strain elastic energy. The calculations also include items relating to the translational entropy of the various ions that are present in the system. It was found that, depending on the concentration of the SFT molecules c 0 network behaviour conforms to one of three regimes. In the case of small c 0 no micelles are formed inside the network and its swelling is like that in a low molecular salt solution. When c 0 = c ∗ the SFT concentration in the network exceeds the MFCC and micelles are formed; at the same time the osmotic pressure of the SFT ions decreases, and the network collapses. Finally, when one other critical concentration c ∗∗ has been reached there is then no further increase in the number of micelles in the network, and its dimensions are equal to those of the uncharged network. There is agreement between theoretical results and the previously obtained experimental data.