pt. I. Adoption and society -- Adoption : concept, principles, and social construct -- The changing face of adoption in the United Kingdom -- pt. II. Adoption and the law -- The legal functions of adoption -- International benchmarks for modern adoption law -- pt. III. Contemporary law, policy and practice -- The adoption process in England & Wales : the Adoption and Children Act 2002 -- The adoption process in Ireland -- The adoption process in the US -- The adoption process in Australia -- Intercountry adoption -- Intraculture adoption
Summary
The Politics of Adoption identifies and analyses the fundamental social and legal functions of adoption. It is a timely publication as across the world adoption law reform is now giving rise to contentious issues. The change process underway in England and Wales offers an opportunity and a perspective to explore areas of commonality and difference in the experience of other nations. It also provides a window through which to examine the presumption that within and between cultures there exists a common understanding of what is meant by adoption
