Africa and the middle class(es)

Abstract

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released its 22nd Human Development Report (HDR) for 2013 worldwide on 14 March of that year (quoted as UNDP 2013). Published annually since 1990 almost uninterruptedly, the report has become an essential tool, not least for the establishment and presentation of data and the ranking of countries in the Human Development Index (HDI). It also provides many related social indicators in comparative perspective. The HDR has also made significant contributions to the general debate on current developmental issues by selecting a particular theme for each year’s narrative and identifying trends of that theme that are considered significant. This year’s focus is on the new global players in the South, but unfortunately the report’s revelations are disappointingly sparse. Indeed, what is surprising is its optimism, which surpasses even that of the assessments made by multilateral financial institutions. The rosy future scenario is at least occasionally punctuated by some more sober observations.