ABSTRACT
Lipetsk oblast, a member of the Central Black-earth region, neighbor to Voronezh and Tambov oblasts, is relatively unknown in academic circles. These two characteristics of economic stability and political activism made Lipetsk the logical choice to conclude the case studies. Partnership and cooperation infused the Lipetsk legislative process. Lipetsk maintained a commitment to partnership even during the 1998 default crisis, when bilateral regions initiated numerous anti-crisis measures that flagrantly contradicted federal laws. Lipetsk had a strongly contested gubernatorial election which resulted in an incumbent’s defeat. In the area of tax collection and fees Lipetsk established an alternative strategy that strengthened the partnership between regional and federal tax agencies and aimed to increase transparency. Regional laws contradicted federal legislation so often and for so long that it almost became a cliche for Russian politics in general. Grass roots activism and civil disobedience, often stimuli to societal improvement and hallmarks of mature democracy, were further developed in Lipetsk than in bilateral regions.
