With concise historical analysis and forward-looking prescriptions, Pathways to Freedom offers an authoritative and accessible look at what countries must do to build durable and prosperous democracies—and what the United States and others can do to help.

Isobel Coleman and Terra Lawson-Remer share seven lessons from their new book, Pathways to Freedom: Political and Economic Lessons From Democratic Transitions.

South Africa in the post-apartheid period has registered steady growth, but mounting problems over inequality threaten the continent's economic engine, explains this Backgrounder.

The recent announcement of a BRICS development bank raised many questions. Isobel Coleman writes about the potential structure and purpose of the BRICS development bank and its implications for international development and the global economy.

Between enthusiasm for President Obama's pro-democracy message and appreciation for the Democratic Party's support for the anti-apartheid movement, South Africans strongly favor Obama's reelection, says Moeletsi Mbeki.

The emerging BRICS economies agree that the West should hold less sway in the global economy. But their leaders, despite regular summits, have failed to articulate a coherent vision because of divergent interests, says journalist Martin Wolf.

Leaders of the BRICS countries (Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa) made this declaration at the fourth BRICS Summit in New Delhi on March 29, 2012.

CFR's James M. Lindsay discusses Nelson Mandela's release from prison in February 1990 and his subsequent rise to the presidency to show how individuals shape history.

Because of increasing American recalcitrance on multilateral issues, Jagdish Bhagwati holds little hope for the Durban climate change talks.

Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool discusses South Africa's role in the changing landscape of global health governance.

Yanzhong Huang discusses the impact of chronic, noncommunicable disease on development in the BRICS nations.

Jendayi Frazer and Valandra discuss Nelson Mandela on his ninety-third birthday.

John Campbell discusses Nelson Mandela's contributions to South Africa.

When apartheid ended, the new regime in South Africa promised to redistribute land that whites had stolen from blacks.

Jendayi Frazer says South Africa and the United States must step in to end the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire.

The upcoming soccer World Cup brings enormous prestige to South Africa's still-emerging democracy. But for all its post-apartheid progress, the country still must fix deep-rooted economic and political problems, writes CFR's Princeton Lyman.

John Campbell says that, if only for a time, excitement and pride in hosting the World Cup will likely lift the gloomy political mood in South Africa and bridge somewhat the nation's racial and economic divides.

Sasha Polakow-Suransky discusses his new book The Unspoken Alliance: Israel's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa.

Michael A. Levi and Katherine Michonski discuss the consequences of the World Bank's refusal to fund a controversial coal-fired power plant in South Africa.

Watch William Kentridge, draftsman, filmmaker, and sculptor, discuss his life in South Africa and his recent exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Five Themes.

This meeting was made possible by the generous support of Bank of America.