Citation

Edwards R. Twenty-First Century Society 2007; 2(2): 209-223.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/17450140701339106

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Recent years have seen both academic and political concerns about the nature of transformations in family and community relationships, including how these have been affected by social and economic developments. The concept of change, rather than attention to continuity, has become central to the contemporary focus on family and community life. However, this has not been accompanied by any comprehensive and co-ordinated debate that is informed by the substance and methodologies of looking back in order to understand the present and prospective future. How can we assess the nature of the past in relation to the present? What are the methodologies involved in enabling this assessment? And what are the merits of an historical approach for contemporary policy and practice?