3 . There have been many global changes since the eighth Round Table , and the ninth Round Table began by looking at the many challenges faced by the world today . These include the rapid spread of globalization and the spread of information and communications technologies ( ICTs ) ; the increasing divide between rich and poor ; the changing nature of the nation-state ; the changing nature of the private sector ; ecological pressure ; the decentralization of services ; the explosion of media ; and the emergence of new social actors .