Read the scenario below before answering the questions that follow.

The BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) recently captured the imagination of the international community when they held the 15th BRICS Summit in Sandton. The most notable takeaway from the summits Johannesburg Declaration was the resolution to expand the membership of BRICS by six more nations effective from January next year. The six new members are Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Egypt and Ethiopia. The move sparked great debate in geopolitical circles. The identity of the new members, the total number of additions, what they bring to BRICS, the growing global impact and effect of BRICS Plus place BRICS at the centre of international speculation about the role of the organisation in geopolitics. It is a home for the bulk of the relatively less-developed nations of the global south. China, Russia, and India are regarded as the mainstay of the new, emerging international world order. The inclusion of the key oil-producing countries in BRICS Plus is seen as a stroke of genius. Already, following the expansion of the bloc from only five to 11 members, BRICS Plus is home to countries responsible for the production of a whopping eighty percent of the worlds oil output. Not only that: BRICS Plus has been rather vocal about the so-called de-dollarisation process. This is a move where all members have resolved to dump the US dollar as a preferred currency when transacting among and between the BRICS Plus members. Moves are afoot to establish a new counter currency to the US dollar that can be unleashed in the international markets as a new alternative of preference.

1.2. Analyse the political risks associated with the new BRICS members and the proposed changed in policies related to no longer using the dollar. (Make sure your answer is representative of the key factors to consider and sound examples/explanations to motivate this. Do not provide emotive answers). (18)