Shame, ontological insecurity and intercountry adoption

Jeremy Youde

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Romania and South Korea were once among the top sending countries for adoptive American families. In recent years, though, both have adopted significant restrictions on intercountry adoption. What leads countries to introduce such severe restrictions? This article argues that shame plays a significant, yet underappreciated, motivating factor for leading governments to change their laws on intercountry adoption. Political leaders seize on nationalist rhetoric to argue that intercountry adoption is shameful. The article explores the interaction between intercountry adoption and shame through brief case studies on Romania and South Korea. Finally, it examines the role of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention) in ameliorating these feelings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)424-441
Number of pages18
JournalCambridge Review of International Affairs
Volume27
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 3 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Centre of International Studies.

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