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The Politics of Adoption

International Perspectives on Law, Policy & Practice

  • Book
  • © 2006

Overview

Authors:
  1. Kerry O’Halloran

    1. Barrister-at-Law, Kings Inns, Dublin, Ireland

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-X
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  2. INTRODUCTION

    1. INTRODUCTION

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 1-4

  3. ADOPTION AND SOCIETY

    1. ADOPTION: CONCEPT, PRINCIPLES, AND SOCIAL CONSTRUCT

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 7-38

    2. THE CHANGING FACE OF ADOPTION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 39-69

  4. ADOPTION AND THE LAW

    1. THE LEGAL FUNCTIONS OF ADOPTION

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 73-100

    2. INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARKS FOR MODERN ADOPTION LAW

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 101-126

  5. CONTEMPORARY LAW, POLICY AND PRACTICE

    1. THE ADOPTION PROCESS IN ENGLAND & WALES: THE ADOPTION AND CHILDREN ACT 2002

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 129-164

    2. THE ADOPTION PROCESS IN IRELAND

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 165-195

    3. THE ADOPTION PROCESS IN THE US

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 197-229

    4. THE ADOPTION PROCESS IN AUSTRALIA

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 231-261

    5. INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 263-290

    6. INTRACULTURE ADOPTION

      • Kerry O’Halloran
      Pages 291-316

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 317-334
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Keywords

About this book

Adoption has always had a political dimension. Its potential use to achieve political ends has been evident throughout history and in many different cultures. In Roman 1 times an emperor would adopt a successful general to continue his rule. In Ireland under the Brehon Laws the reciprocal placements of children between clans was 2 an accepted means of cementing mutual allegiances. In Japan the adoption of non-relatives was traditionally seen as a means of allying with the fortunes of 3 the ruling family. The willingness of governments to use adoption as a political strategy was apparent, for example, in Australia where it was used to further 4 the assimilation of indigenous people. It is now present in the phenomenon of intercountry adoption where the ?ow of children, particularly in the aftermath of war, is often politics by proxy and which arguably attracts the involvement of 5 some countries for reasons of economic and political expediency. Adoption does not function in isolation. It plays a distinct role within the c- text of family law proceedings. The extent to which it is available as a resource for children in the public care system or as an adjunct to marriage proceedings is essentially politically determined. It is itself susceptible to political in?uence. 6 In fact direct political leadership, exercised ?rst by President Clinton and then 1 See, Gibbons, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Harrap, London 1949 at p. 30.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Barrister-at-Law, Kings Inns, Dublin, Ireland

    Kerry O’Halloran

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