The Department gave a situational analysis which underlined a continued trend of South Africa, Africa and the broader South's socio-economic development being slowed by challenges of the developed countries. The global environment continued to be characterised by a major shift in global, economic and social dynamics. These included the realignment of new economic powers, new media and social networks; environmental change; heightened demand for scarce resources and the changing nature of conflict and insecurity. The new economic powers were influencing the balance of the global distribution of power, resulting in the formation of new political and economic groupings. South Africa and African economies are increasingly linked to these new economic powers.