Objective/Context:

This article seeks to understand the characteristics and political implications of the process that allowed the adoption of Chilean children by Swedish parents during the military dictatorship in Chile.

Methodology:

The research is based on the review of diplomatic documentation corresponding to the Chilean Embassy in Sweden, specifically on reports that described the dissemination of the image of Chile and its children in the Swedish media between 1973 and 1990. In addition, reports, periodicals, and official records were consulted that expressed the reaction of the Chilean authorities to criticism received from the Swedish press for irregularities in the adoptions of children.

Originality:

The political and diplomatic framework for the regulation of international adoptions in the context of military dictatorships in Latin America has been poorly addressed from the humanities and social sciences since interest has been focused on the search for origins by adopted people and their biological families. Hence, this work’s contribution to the historiography of adoptions lies in its focus on the political and diplomatic dimensions of the phenomenon, on the scope of forced mechanisms in the circulation of children to first world countries, as well as on regulatory policies regarding children and family.

Conclusions:

Based on the revised documentation, it is feasible to conclude that the adoptions of Chilean children by Swedish families were part of a campaign of the military dictatorship to promote adoption, which worked as a counter-propaganda to stop “anti-Chilean campaign” in Sweden, as well as to recover international ties.

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