Adoption by Poles wandering around the States (8)
I believe the answer is:
espousal
'adoption' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'poles wandering around the states' is the wordplay.
'wandering' indicates an anagram.
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'the states' becomes 'usa' (I've seen this before).
'poles' with letters rearranged gives 'espol'.
'espol' placed around 'usa' is 'ESPOUSAL'.
'by' is the link.
(Other definitions for espousal that I've seen before include "Adoption, support (of)" , "Favourable reception" , "Action of adopting (a cause)" , "Adoption (of a cause) - USA's pole (anag)" , "old-fashioned marriage" .)