2014 is a year of celebration on 20 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa. Simultaneously it is a time for reflection on how these two decades transformed the country and what trends emerged. Substantial progress has been made in many developmental areas, such as delivery of infrastructure and reduction of extreme poverty. Other areas are characterised by persistent barriers that set complex challenges for the future, among which unemployment, economic growth, poverty and inequalities prominently feature. It is a time to look back, ask where we stand today and deliberate on where we are heading. This seventh edition in the internationally acclaimed State of the Nation series from HSRC Press is a significant contribution to the debates around the impact of 20 years of freedom and democracy on South Africa. Resonating with a wealth of research in a variety of disciplines and cross-disciplinary fields, leading scholars analyse and reflect on an emerging balance sheet that urges all South Africans towards a fair, coherent and multi-pronged approach to development, in which all stakeholders need to participate. The two decades of freedom and democracy are viewed through the lenses of politics, economics, society, health, environment and the global context. Each of these sections offers illuminating and significant analyses, some with a specific focus, others providing a longitudinal perspective. Together they create a multi-faceted set of critiques of topics of national importance such as governability of the state; the National Development Plan; Constitutional rights; employment creation; HIV and AIDS; media freedom; and the position of South Africa in BRICS. Across the world, scholars, academics, policymakers and general readers look to the annual editions of State of the Nation as influential frames of reference for South African current affairs and the pathways forward. The current edition will not disappoint these readers. State of the Nation 2014 presents: Insightful reflections on two decades of freedom and democracy, emerging trends and future perspectives; A definitive bridge between longitudinal studies and compelling narratives; Critical views that will challenge understanding of past and current affairs The research reference for the next decade.

The publication of this book forms part of a civil society programme of action for the African Women's Decade, co-ordinated by South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID). It reports on the main issues facing South African women, namely: 1) poverty eradication in the context of gender; 2) early childhood development (ECD) in the context of gender; 3) violence against women; and 4) co-ordination of civil society initiatives. A fifth theme which cuts across all the others is employment creation.

The State of the nation 2016 volume uses multiple research lenses to analyse the dynamic interface of power and authority structures that characterises the state and South African society as a dynamic constitutional democracy. The volume projects these dynamics in the context of heightening contestations around structural economic, social and political problems such as unemployment, inequality, poverty and land redistribution. Is the state indeed in charge of the country’s economy and development and to what extent is the government able to effectively drive its publicly pronounced developmental state agenda? When does `leading’ become `controlling’? What are the roles of the private sector and civil society in development? To whom is the state accountable and how is it held accountable? What are the definitive signs that the South African state has been hollowed out in the interests of a market-led economy rather than functioning as a developmental or capable state? From the state’s point of view, which external role players, forces and powers are preventing the state administration and agencies from fully achieving its goals? In the context of such constraints, a range of changing dynamics—financial, constitutional, political and economic—and with a focus on the lingering remnants of the apartheid state —State of the nation 2016 analyses South Africa and how power impacts on mandates, accountability and contestations in the South African state by asking: Who is in charge?