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.
This seventh edition in the internationally acclaimed State of the Nation series is a significant contribution to the debates around the impact of 20 years of freedom and democracy. Resonating with a wealth of research, 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.