“De-dollarization is sort of a hedging exercise. It's preparing for that potential instance of sanctions in the future or adapting to the current sanctions that you're facing but it is real, it's happening and it does have important implications for the U.S. and for the world,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.

Margaret Susan Thompson, associate professor of history and political science, says one of the biggest reasons for the changing relationship is that [Pope] Francis and other key decision-makers were members of religious congregations themselves. "I think that made a big difference," she says.

The assistant professor of political science will make remarks at the Maxwell School Graduate Convocation on May 10.