Understanding the Emergence, Diffusion and Continuance of Intercountry Adoption from South Korea to Queensland, Australia
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UNDERSTANDING THE EMERGENCE, DIFFUSION AND CONTINUANCE OF INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION FROM SOUTH KOREA TO QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA Patricia Alexandrina Fronek B.Soc.Wk A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in March 2009 School of Social Work and Human Services Declaration by Author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Statement of Contributions to Jointly Authored Works Contained in the Thesis No jointly authored works. Statement of Contributions by Others to the Thesis as a Whole No contributions by others. Statement of Parts of the Thesis Submitted to Qualify for the Award of Another Degree None. i Published Works by the Author Incorporated into the Thesis Fronek, P 2006, 'Global perspectives in Korean intercountry adoption', Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 21-31. Figure 2 published on page 26 of the above journal article, is incorporated as Figure 1 on page 9 of Chapter 1. Figure 1 published on page 22 of the above article, is partially incorporated as Figure 2 on page 24 of Chapter 2. Additional Published Works by the Author Relevant to the Thesis but not Forming Part of it None. ii Acknowledgements There are many people I would like to acknowledge and thank for their support, guidance and encouragement during my candidature. Firstly, I would like to thank all those people who generously gave of their time, knowledge and experience as participants in this research. Without their participation, this research would not have been possible. I am particularly grateful in light of the sensitivities surrounding the subject matter. My sincerest appreciation goes to my supervisors, Associate Professor Cheryl Tilse and Associate Professor Karen Healy. I consider myself privileged to have had been under their tutelage and benefited greatly from their experience, knowledge and mentorship. I would like to thank Associate Professor Cheryl Tilse for the support, encouragement and patience always extended to me. I am also grateful to Associate Professor Karen Healy for her support, guidance and insights. I always looked forward to supervision, a testament to their supervisory skills and commitment to their student. I shall miss our sessions together. I would like to thank Dr Liane Turner who convinced me to undertake PhD studies and Associate Professor Margaret Shapiro who enabled me to do so. There are many people who supported and encouraged me along the way. Special thanks, however, goes to Dr Pat Dorsett for her steadfast support and encouragement when I needed it most. I would also like to extend my thanks to fellow PhD students, Indigo Williams, Melissa Kendall and Karleigh Kwapil, for invaluable peer support. There are many researchers and scholars who generously shared resources with me and I would like to thank them. Finally, I would like to thank my family and the friends who have endured me on this journey. iiiiv Abstract The adoption of Korean children has played a significant role in the practice of intercountry adoption in Australia since the 1970s and represents the majority of overseas born children adopted into Australia. Its influence on policy and practice is explored in this thesis through the Queensland experience. From its outset the adoption of children from overseas has been characterised by polarised perspectives and vested interests. Actor Network Theory, the theoretical lens through which this phenomenon is viewed, allows for the exploration of controversies and multiple perspectives that have featured in over thirty years of Korean intercountry adoption practice in Australia. This thesis aims to identify which actor networks were influential in the emergence, diffusion and continuation of Korean intercountry adoption; and to explore the translations, an important concept in Actor Network Theory, and the tactics used by these networks to spread particular discourse to meet network goals. The methodology is qualitative and approaches Korean intercountry adoption as a case study. The data corpus, collected from 2004 to 2007 comprised text and interviews. Text included Queensland government archival records; submissions provided to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services Overseas Adoption in Australia 2005 and public hearing transcripts; parliamentary documents; media reports; computer-mediated communications such as internet sources and email discussion groups. Interviews were conducted with key stakeholders from interest groups and organisations with administrative roles in intercountry adoption practice in Australia. Korean intercountry adoption has proved influential in developing expectations concerning how intercountry adoption should be practised in Australia. Three actor networks, proponent, opponent and nonpartisan were identified during the diffusion and continuance periods. Actor Network Theory helped understand how the proponent network became dominant in the Australian context. A number of highly effective tactics have been used to expand and increase the influence of the proponent network through translations. However, a number of threats to continuation such as the growth of the opponent network and the promotion of Korean domestic adoption have emerged. Actors have responded to these threats in a number of ways. Detours have been proposed by proponent actors to help them reach their goals though these may bring unintended consequences. An Actor Network viv Theory perspective reveals the important role of the Internet; helps understand how controversies are created and perpetuated; how intercountry adoption has become politicised in Australia; and highlights the risks to child centred and knowledge based practice that politicisation brings. The significance of this study lies in the insights provided by exploring power interrelationships between actor networks and how these shape particular phenomenon, in this case, Korean intercountry adoption. Intercountry adoption in Australia is poorly understood at a macro level as are the controversies surrounding it. Its practice has been heavily influenced by the interests of the dominant network with scant attention to research in the local context. Actor Network Theory that allows for the inclusion of human and nonhuman actors such as the Internet has proven useful for developing contemporary understandings of such a complex, global phenomenon. These understandings provide opportunities for individuals, groups and governments to address controversy in ways than do not contribute to its perpetuation and to refocus their attentions on the factors that contribute to the relinquishment of children in the first instance. This thesis highlights how politically driven agendas that serve the interests of one network can marginalise voices that bring more complex understandings to the intercountry adoption phenomenon. An Actor Network Theory analysis exposes the lack of investment by governments, organisations and individuals in community programs and services that address the causes of child relinquishment and empower Korean families and communities to seek their own solutions. Key Words Intercountry adoption, South Korea, Australia, Actor Network Theory. Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) 160799 100%. viv Table of Contents Declaration by Author.......................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements............................................................................................................iii Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iv Table of Contents................................................................................................................ 1 Table of Figures .................................................................................................................. 5 Table of Tables.................................................................................................................... 6 Preface................................................................................................................................