Exploring the relevance of the 'presence paradigm' for historical research on social work: the case of the Ghent orphanages

The value of investigating the historical dimension of social work is currently often called into question in scientific circles. In our contribution, we argue that we need to rethink the relation between the past and the... [ view full abstract ]

The value of investigating the historical dimension of social work is currently often called into question in scientific circles. In our contribution, we argue that we need to rethink the relation between the past and the present to reveal how the past is still relevant for contemporary social work theory, policy and practice. Therefore, we consider the idea that the past can be present in the present-day (Bos, 2010) by leaving behind the classical dichotomy of ‘absent’ and ‘present’ (Bevernage, 2007). Inspired by the work of Eeclo Runia (2006), a Dutch philosopher in the theory of history, we explore the relevance of ‘the presence paradigm’ for historical research on social work. In this frame of reference, the ambivalent ontological status of the presence, or non-absent past, is emphasised which leads us to the issue of continuity and discontinuity (Bos, 2010) in relation to historical research on social work (see also Lorenz, 2007; Villadson, 2007 for the discipline of social work). We consider these insights in the context of a current historical research about the Ghent orphanages after WO II, being contemplated as social welfare institutions. Based on these research insights, we address how the ‘presence paradigm’ can enable us to find a way in which historical research on social work can embrace ambiguities, contradictions and discontinuities rather than reconstructing one version of the past.