In Spain, international adoption has quadrupled from 1997 to 2002. International adoption is a global process that begun at the end of Second World War and Korea War to which Spain has incorporated during the during the decade of 1990. In these last ten years, there has been an increase of international adoptions in Spain, which in turn has stimulated the building of a legislative framework, and also the creation of associations, federations and social organisations in general around new themes. The associations of adoptive families are a very good example of this issue. As was observed during fieldwork, the relations established by adoptive parents during and after the adoption procedures are mostly virtual, complemented with one or two annual meetings. While the association seats remain empty and most of them only meet their associates during the yearly meetings, lists and chats keep up an almost frantic activity

En España las adopciones internacionales se cuadruplicaron entre 1997 y 2002. Si bien se trata de un proceso global iniciado al final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y la guerra de Corea al que España se incorporó en la década de 1990, la magnitud adquirida en pocos años requirió de un singular esfuerzo legislativo a la vez que estimuló movimientos sociales y formas de organización de la sociedad civil sobre nuevos temas. Las asociaciones de padres adoptivos constituyen un buen ejemplo de ello. Se trata, en general, de relaciones esencialmente virtuales, complementadas con uno o dos grandes encuentros anuales que hacen que, mientras que las sedes físicas de las asociaciones –cuando existen- permanecen casi vacías, las sedes virtuales, listas de distribución y chats mantienen una actividad casi frenética.