Since 2003, the HSRC has biennially released its flagship publication, State of the Nation. The HSRC has published eleven publications and 2024 marked the SON’s 20^th anniversary. SON impact extends far beyond academia, with extensive local and international coverage in the media. The longstanding Open Access policy of the HSRC Press ensures that this research is freely available to the public. The 2026 Volume “Social justice and the state of the Constitution” will be edited by Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller, Dr Yul Derek Davids, Prof Ashwin Desai and Prof Charles Hongoro. The expected launch of the final manuscript is November 2026.