Author Description

In the Best Interests of the Child is a controversial book. It is the first to undertake a sustained examination of the highly charged issue of transracial adoption - the placing of babies and children for adoption with parents of a different ethnic background. For the past decade this issue has provided a potent symbol for those who have argued that transracial adoption represents a form of 'genocide'. White people, it has been claimed, were 'stealing' black babies and many sought to ban the practice. As a consequence of these bans, the issue was taken up by those arguing against so-called 'political correctness', who have claimed that they represent one of the worst examples of political ideology being given precedence over the welfare of vulnerable children in care. In the Best Interests of the Child (a phrase that is at the heart of current legislation) puts these arguments into context. It examines the historical, cultural and political background of the claims and counter claims and examines the issue from the perspective of sociologists, psychologists and legal experts. It features an important section of evidence from the United States, from where much of the impetus to impose bans originated. There is a valuable appendix which, for the first time, brings together all the important policy statements and guidelines issued by the organizations central to this debate. The conclusion presents a series of proposals for handling transracial adoptions which, the editors believe, will be 'in the best interests of the child'.