The number of international adoptions has increased over the years. This now involves the transfer of more than 40,000 children each year (van Londen et al. 2007, 1249). Some people believe that international adoption can be considered a suitable solution to the orphan problem, because it provides disadvantaged children with parental love and gives them the opportunity to avoid the socialization problems that orphaned children usually encounter. On the other hand, international adoption is criticized by others due to the loss of culture and disorder of identity formation that adoptees suffer from. Additionally, international adoption is often used in connection with child trafficking. This article will examine whether adoption serves the best interests of the child, who should be allowed to be adopted and the role of governments in regulating such decisions are frequent topics of debate. It will then critically determine the use of international adoption for children adopted under the most disadvantageous conditions and argue that regulation of the legal system related to international adoption is necessary to ensure that abuses such as abduction and child trafficking are eliminated. This article will particularly focus on the adoption of Russian children by American citizens. International adoption is a process that involves the legal and permanent transfer of a child from the biological parent(s) to new guardians across an international border. The child usually moves to a new country, with parents of a different race, culture and language than his or her biological family, and acquires a new nationality. Historically, international adoption has been associated with disasters, natural or man-made, and the poverty that follows......middle of article......on & Society 52 ( 5): 71-78. Academic Source Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed March 8, 2011). Van Londen, W., F. Juffer and H. van IJzendoorn. 2007. Attachment, cognitive and motor development in adopted children: Short-term outcomes after international adoption. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 32:1249-1258. Oxford Journals. http://www.oxfordjournals.org (accessed October 29, 2001). UNICEF position on international adoption. 2010. http://www.unicef.org/media/media_55412.html (accessed February 25, 2011) Wilkinson, H. 1995. Psychological process and issues of international adoption. American Journal of Family Therapy 23(2): 173-183. Academic Source Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed March 8, 2011). Winkler, P. 2007. Domestic and international adoption. Social Work 52 (2): 189-190. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed March 10, 2011).