Using a historical genealogical approach to examine Ireland's health care system

Abstract

The health of a nation tells much about the nature of a social contract between citizen and state. The way that health care is organised, and the degree to which it is equitably accessible, constitutes a manifestation of the effects of moments and events in that country's history. Research around health inequalities often focuses on demonstrating current conditions, with little attention paid to how the conditions of inequality have been achieved and sustained. This article presents a novel approach to inequalities research that focuses on examining powerful historical discourses as legitimising processes that serve to sustain unequal conditions. The use of this Foucauldian historical genealogical approach in a study of the Irish health care system is explored and proposed as a novel approach to the research of health inequities.

Philanthropic Foundations' Discourse and Nursing's Future

“…Critiques using an archaeological and genealogical lens “create a ... rupture in discourses and practices to deflate hyperbole, question truth claims, challenge inconsistencies and open up possibilities for dialogue and change.”28 (p6) Analyses from these perspectives often focus on the known rather than the unknown so that taken for granted assumptions can be disclosed. Foucault's methodologies help us see how the power, truth, and knowledge of a particular phenomenon—in this instance, FON initiatives—evolve and change over time and ultimately reproduce conditions that make a phenomenon possible 29…”

“…Foucault's methodologies help us see how the power, truth, and knowledge of a particular phenomenon-in this instance, FON initiatives-evolve and change over time and ultimately reproduce conditions that make a phenomenon possible. 29 In this first of a 2-part set of articles, we introduce principles related to the genealogy of power/knowledge specific to the nursing profession and foundations and trace nursingfoundation encounters through a genealogic lens. We begin by describing foundations' past efforts to exert power over a range of social phenomena, including key reports determining the profession's status.…”