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EDITED BY SAKHELA BUHLUNGU, JOHN DANIEL, JESSICA LUTCHMAN AND ROGER SOUTHALL and published by the HSRC PRESS The HSRC Press has released the third volume in the State of the Nation series. This annual collection of original essays on the politics, economy, society and international relations of contemporary South Africa has become a highly-respected and successful barometer measuring the changes and challenges of the post-apartheid era. Local as well as international interest has been extensive, with both previous volumes being prescribed as university texts, as well as being read by many ordinary South Africans to find out more about their complex and fascinating country. Individual essays have been called authoritative, controversies have been stirred, and media interest has been wide-spread. State of the Nation 2005-2006 continues this tradition with an exciting list of contributors from universities, civil society organisations and the media, as well as from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). The reach of this compilation is both broad and captivating. From land restitution to black economic empowerment, from the social crisis of guns to the state of South African soccer, from Chinese communities in South Africa to South Africa’s emerging energy crisis, "State of the Nation 2005-2006 provides a wide and unique set of analyses. In the Politics section, authors tackle the tricky topic of service delivery, look to a more appropriate definition of poverty in line with the spirit of the Constitution, assess land restitution, and Parliament’s oversight role, and explore the efficacy of the national gender machinery. A range of topical issues fall within the Economy section: black empowerment, labour market deracialisation, the informal economy, the future of labour, and the state of research and development. Always a lively section of the collection, the Society chapters cover a colourful spectrum: urbanisation and cities, guns and weaponry, the Chinese communities in South Africa, the troubled state of local soccer, and mathematics and science education in schools. Lastly, looking at South Africa in the world, three chapters tackle the country’s foreign trade strategy, its relationship with the People’s Republic of China, and the scramble for energy resources in Africa. State of the Nation takes it cue from the South African President’s own annual assessments of the country’s condition – his “State of the Nation” speeches, which include new directions in government strategy as well as target-setting. The publication rests on the solid foundation of the South African Review series of the 1980s. Its contributors examine issues from a qualified position of thoughtful scrutiny, without fear or favour. In his editorial, Roger Southall highlights the debate around the developmental state. While the chapters that follow range widely across their topics, this theme comes through strongly. Ultimately, the collection poses the pressing question: if democratic South Africa is to achieve its objectives of growth and equity, will it need to become a developmental state of a special type? State of the Nation 2005-2006 offers nineteen very diverse angles which address this issue – and related topics - in a compelling, comprehensive and very relevant publication. State of the Nation South Africa 2005-2006 is edited by Sakhela Buhlungu, John Daniel, Jessica Lutchman and Roger Southall and published by the HSRC Press. Contributing authors are Karthy Govender, Eddie Webster, Percy Moleke, Janet Wilhelm, Wiseman Magasela, Cherryl Walker, Sanusha Naidu, Jacky Cock, Merryman Kunene, Amanda Gouws, Bill Freund, Judith February, David Hemson, Michael O’Donovan, Imraan Valodia, Caroline Skinner, Richard Devey, Jesmond Blumenfeld, Michael Kahn, William Blankley and Vijay Reddy. Copies of all of HSRC Press published titles are available from leading booksellers nationally, and from the online bookshop at www.hsrcpress.ac.za.
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