Dorraj said he decided to write the book due to China's increasing role in the global economy, which has been fueled by the country's access to oil and gas.

New developing regions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America have all signed long-term oil and gas contracts with China, Dorraj said. These contracts have had major ramifications for China's economy.

“China has had an impressive economic growth of 9 percent per year for more than a decade that no other country can match,” Dorraj said. “In order to sustain this rate of growth, they have to have access to a vast amount of oil and gas.”

Dorraj was prompted to write the book as a result of several collaborations with his colleague Carrie Currier, professor of political science and co-editor of the book. They felt that there was a void in the literature about the subject and decided to fill that void, Dorraj said.

At the lecture, Dorraj discussed how his book sheds light on China's expansion of its energy ties with the developing world and the way the country is emerging as the new global power among developing nations.

“I would argue that the rise of China in the global stage will be the most dramatic issue of the 21st century that we are all going to face,” Dorraj said.

June Koelker, the dean of the library, was grateful that Dorraj took the time to speak to speak about his new book that he co-edited with Currier.

“A topic that involves energy and where China is going in the 21st century is important, especially with upcoming presidential elections,” Koelker said. “It is an interesting topic at this point of time.”

Ed Fritz, president of the Friends of the TCU Library board, attended the lecture and said Dorraj’s book was very informative and led him to buy two books. 

“I think it is an interesting point of view where Dorraj mentioned that China was buying the U.S. debt,” Fritz said. “It’s not to intimidate the U.S. government, but it helps keep their domestic employment under control.”

“China’s Energy Relations with the Developing World” can be purchased at the TCU Bookstore and Amazon.com