ABSTRACT
The previous four chapters have examined various aspects of party activity in the middle Volga area. Beginning with an outline of parties’ organizational strengths, examination has been made of other aspects of their activities: internal decision-making; everyday party life; the role and attitudes of the membership; and their participation in the election campaigns of 1999-2001. The main focus has been empirical, with micro-level examination of three neighbouring nonmetropolitan regions. This has created the opportunity to examine in great detail the interactions of regional organizations with their environments, with each other, and with their higher party organs.
