Ending the ‘cruel rationing of human love’? Adoption politics and neo-liberal rationality

This critical discussion examines the evolution of adoption politics in England and Wales with the main focus on how policy has been shaped during the period of the Coalition and Conservative governments from 2010. Whilst suggesting that concern about ‘race’ is recurrent, it is maintained that it is possible to decipher a number of other core aspects to policy making: first, the ruling administrations’ attempts to ‘reform’ the welfare state alongside a pervasive scepticism that local authority social workers are sufficiently committed to neoliberal remaking practices; second, the emphasis on the reported ‘real world’, lived experience of adoption familiar to many of those now defining policy; third, the influence of US policy and practice; finally, the substantial amplification of neoliberal discourses on consumption. Indeed, this facet will be dwelt on in more detail because it perhaps highlights the truly innovative – and unwelcome – tonality of neoliberal policy making in this sphere.