In
so far as the research involved direct investigation of the
Kazakh
unions and of their relations with the GUFs, the method was
participant
observation. The author was involved as an educator
with
the ICEM, IUF and other GUFs from 1995 until 2010 and was
involved
in project planning, investigations into unions and
conducting
numerous workshops both in Russia and Central Asia.
He
draws here on extensive diaries of the preparation, implementation
and evaluation of workshop events and their impact on
unions
across the fifteen year period. In Central Asia, involvement in
these
activities reached a peak in 2004–2006. Although this is
relatively
long for a research project and considerable change might
be
expected during it, the main changes were contextual and the
overall
story was one of organisational stasis. The author also had
regular
discussion with GUF officials at all levels from General
Secretary
downwards and access to extensive documentation on
GUF
strategy and local union structures. These documents provide
unique
insights into GUF perceptions of the unions.