An inter­view with

Alex McKay

Pos­i­tion & Affil­i­ation: Retired Indo-Tibetan his­tor­i­an; Pro­fess­or emer­it­us at SOAS (School of Ori­ent­al and Afric­an Stud­ies), Lon­don and IIAS (Inter­na­tion­al Insti­tute for Asi­an Stud­ies), Leiden
Date: March 16, 2020 in Lon­don, United Kingdom
Inter­viewed by: Anna Sehnalova

Cite this archive

Oral His­tory of Tibetan Stud­ies. (2021, Decem­ber 2). An inter­view with Alex McKay. Retrieved 26 April 2025, from https://oralhistory.iats.info/interviews/alex-mckay/.
“An inter­view with Alex McKay.” Oral His­tory of Tibetan Stud­ies, 2 Dec. 2021, https://oralhistory.iats.info/interviews/alex-mckay/.
Oral His­tory of Tibetan Stud­ies. 2021. An inter­view with Alex McKay. [online], Avail­able at: https://oralhistory.iats.info/interviews/alex-mckay/ [Accessed 26 April 2025]
Oral His­tory of Tibetan Stud­ies. “An inter­view with Alex McKay.” 2021, Decem­ber 2. https://oralhistory.iats.info/interviews/alex-mckay/.

Dis­claim­er: The views and opin­ions expressed in this inter­view are those of the inter­viewee and do not neces­sar­ily rep­res­ent the offi­cial pos­i­tion of the Oral His­tory of Tibetan Stud­ies project.

Timestamps:

Additional info

  • A. McKay, “The oth­er ‘great game’: polit­ics and sport in Tibet, 1904–47,” Inter­na­tion­al journ­al of the his­tory of sport, vol. 11, iss. 3, p. 372–386, 1994.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_other_1994,
    title = {The other 'great game': politics and sport in {Tibet}, 1904-47},
    volume = {11},
    copyright = {Copyright Taylor \& Francis Group, LLC 1994},
    issn = {0952-3367},
    abstract = {Association football played by the British in Tibet had a clear political dimension, serving as a microcosm of the Great Game at the Raj's northern frontier; it may be seen as part of Britain's wider political moves in the Himalayan heartland. Briefly examines field sports, since British officers' fondness for shooting and fishing possibly influenced Tibetan perceptions of the British.},
    language = {eng},
    number = {3},
    journal = {International journal of the history of sport},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {1994},
    note = {Place: London
    Publisher: Taylor \& Francis Group},
    pages = {372--386},
    }
  • A. McKay, ““Myth­os Tibet” Sym­posi­um, Bonn, 10–12 May 1996,” The tibet journ­al, vol. 22, iss. 1, p. 102–104, 1997.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_mythos_1997,
    title = {"{Mythos} {Tibet}" {Symposium}, {Bonn}, 10-12 {May} 1996},
    volume = {22},
    issn = {0970-5368},
    language = {eng},
    number = {1},
    journal = {The Tibet journal},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {1997},
    note = {Publisher: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives},
    keywords = {Academic conferences, Buddhism, Conference Report, Utopian fiction, Westerns},
    pages = {102--104},
    }
  • A. McKay, “Pil­grim­age stud­ies. Sac­red places, sac­red tra­di­tions. Edited by D. P. Dubey. (Pil­grim­age Stud­ies, 3.) pp. 274, figs., maps. Alla­habad, The Soci­ety of Pil­grim­age Stud­ies, 1994. Rs 350, US \$50.00,” Journ­al of the roy­al asi­at­ic soci­ety, vol. 6, iss. 2, p. 276–277, 1996.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_pilgrimage_1996,
    title = {Pilgrimage studies. {Sacred} places, sacred traditions. {Edited} by {D}. {P}. {Dubey}. ({Pilgrimage} {Studies}, 3.) pp. 274, figs., maps. {Allahabad}, {The} {Society} of {Pilgrimage} {Studies}, 1994. {Rs} 350, {US} \$50.00},
    volume = {6},
    issn = {1356-1863},
    language = {eng},
    number = {2},
    journal = {Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {1996},
    pages = {276--277},
    }
  • A. McKay, “Monks, spies and a sol­dier of for­tune: the Japan­ese in Tibet. By Scott Berry, pp. 384, maps. Lon­don, Ath­lone Press, 1995. £28.00,” Journ­al of the roy­al asi­at­ic soci­ety, vol. 6, iss. 2, p. 294–295, 1996.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_monks_1996,
    title = {Monks, spies and a soldier of fortune: the {Japanese} in {Tibet}. {By} {Scott} {Berry}, pp. 384, maps. {London}, {Athlone} {Press}, 1995. £28.00},
    volume = {6},
    issn = {1356-1863},
    language = {eng},
    number = {2},
    journal = {Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {1996},
    pages = {294--295},
    }
  • A. McKay, “ ‘Kick­ing the Buddha’s Head’: India, Tibet and Foot­balling Colo­ni­al­ism,” Soc­cer and soci­ety, vol. 2, iss. 2, p. 89–104, 2001.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_kicking_2001,
    title = {'{Kicking} the {Buddha}'s {Head}': {India}, {Tibet} and {Footballing} {Colonialism}},
    volume = {2},
    copyright = {Copyright Taylor \& Francis Group, LLC 2001},
    issn = {1466-0970},
    abstract = {The author considers the historical relationship between football and India from a different perspective than that of the preceding authors. Their studies look at the region as a receptor of the game from Europe, but this essay, in looking at the way in which football arrived in Tibet, demonstrates that India has also been a point of transmission for soccer in Asia. The British took football with them on their diplomatic missions but the game was more than simply a means of passing the time. The author explores the aims and objectives of the British promotion of the game in the country and also considers indigenous responses to it and provides a contrast with the Indian example, as the local Tibetan elites successfully blocked the spread of the game among their communities.},
    language = {eng},
    number = {2},
    journal = {Soccer and society},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2001},
    note = {Publisher: Taylor \& Francis Group},
    pages = {89--104},
    }
  • A. Mckay, “Cent­ral Asia — Hugh Richard­son: High peaks, pure earth: col­lec­ted writ­ings on Tibetan his­tory and cul­ture. Edited by Michael Aris. [xxi], 776 pp., 64 plates. Lon­don: Ser­in­dia, 1998. £25,” Bul­let­in of the school of ori­ent­al and afric­an stud­ies, vol. 62, iss. 2, p. 384–385, 1999.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_central_1999,
    title = {Central {Asia} - {Hugh} {Richardson}: {High} peaks, pure earth: collected writings on {Tibetan} history and culture. {Edited} by {Michael} {Aris}. [xxi], 776 pp., 64 plates. {London}: {Serindia}, 1998. £25},
    volume = {62},
    issn = {0041-977X},
    language = {eng},
    number = {2},
    journal = {Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies},
    author = {Mckay, Alex},
    year = {1999},
    pages = {384--385},
    }
  • A. McKay, H. Sander­son, T. Myatt, P. Wang­du, H. Yan, K. Phunt­sho, H. Diem­ber­ger, B. Huett, Y. Dhon­dup, and R. Barnett, “The Young­hus­band ‘mis­sion’ to Tibet,” Inner asia (white horse press), vol. 14, iss. 1, p. 5–194, 2012.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_younghusband_2012,
    title = {The {Younghusband} 'mission' to {Tibet}},
    volume = {14},
    issn = {1464-8172},
    language = {eng},
    number = {1},
    journal = {Inner Asia (White Horse Press)},
    author = {McKay, Alex and Sanderson, Henry and Myatt, Tim and Wangdu, Pasang and Yan, Hu and Phuntsho, Karma and Diemberger, Hildegard and Huett, Bruce and Dhondup, Yangdon and Barnett, Robert},
    year = {2012},
    keywords = {Colonial history, Military history, Tibet, Asian studies, China, Cultural heritage, Data collection, Documents, Historical analysis, Historiography, Invasions, Narratives, Political conditions, Popular culture, Strategic planning, United Kingdom},
    pages = {5--194},
    }
  • A. McKay, “Cold War in the High Him­alay­as: The USA, China and South Asia in the 1950s. By S. Mah­mud Ali. pp. xxxviii, 285, Rich­mond, Curzon, 1999,” Journ­al of the roy­al asi­at­ic soci­ety, vol. 11, iss. 1, p. 51, 2001.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_cold_2001,
    title = {Cold {War} in the {High} {Himalayas}: {The} {USA}, {China} and {South} {Asia} in the 1950s. {By} {S}. {Mahmud} {Ali}. pp. xxxviii, 285, {Richmond}, {Curzon}, 1999},
    volume = {11},
    copyright = {The Royal Asiatic Society, 2001},
    issn = {1356-1863},
    language = {eng},
    number = {1},
    journal = {Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2001},
    note = {Place: Cambridge
    Publisher: Cambridge University Press},
    keywords = {Christianity, Christians, Coins, Iconography},
    pages = {51},
    }
  • A. McKay and D. Wangchuk, “Tra­di­tion­al Medi­cine in Bhutan,” Asi­an medi­cine (leiden, neth­er­lands), vol. 2005, iss. 1, p. 204–218, 2005.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_traditional_2005,
    title = {Traditional {Medicine} in {Bhutan}},
    volume = {2005},
    copyright = {Copyright 2005 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands},
    issn = {1573-420X},
    abstract = {The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is an independent state situated between China and India. It emerged as a unified polity in the early 17th century under the rule of an exiled Tibetan religious leader and much of its elite culture, including its medical traditions, were brought from Tibet during this period. The Bhutanese Traditional Medical system subsequently evolved distinct characteristics that enable it to be viewed as a separate part of the Himalayan tradition of Sowa Rigpa (̒the science of healing̓), which includes what is now known as Tibetan Medicine. After coming under the influence of the British imperial Government of India at the beginning of the 20th century, Bhutan was occasionally visited by British Medical Officers from the Indian Medical Service, who accompanied British Political Officers on diplomatic missions there. But when the British withdrew from South Asia in 1947 there were no permanent biomedical structures or even fully qualified Bhutanese biomedical doctors in Bhutan. Since 194 7, Bhutan has evolved a state medical system in which their Traditional Medicine is an integral part and patients have the choice of treatment under traditional or biomedical practitioners. With particular reference to the role of The Institute of Traditional Medicine Services in Thimphu this paper discusses the history, structures and practices of traditional medicine in Bhutan, including its interaction with biomedicine.},
    language = {eng},
    number = {1},
    journal = {Asian medicine (Leiden, Netherlands)},
    author = {McKay, Alex and Wangchuk, Dorji},
    year = {2005},
    note = {Place: Netherlands
    Publisher: BRILL},
    pages = {204--218},
    }
  • A. Mckay, Dalai Lama, 2009.
    [Bib­tex]
    @misc{mckay_dalai_2009,
    title = {Dalai {Lama}},
    language = {eng},
    author = {Mckay, Alex},
    year = {2009},
    note = {ISBN: 1933782684
    Pages: 557
    Publication Title: Berkshire Encyclopedia of China: Modern and Historic Coverage of the World's Newest and Oldest Global Power
    Volume: 2},
    }
  • A. Mckay, Tibet (Xiz­ang) Autonom­ous RegionBerkshire pub­lish­ing group, 2009.
    [Bib­tex]
    @misc{mckay_tibet_2009,
    title = {Tibet ({Xizang}) {Autonomous} {Region}},
    language = {eng},
    publisher = {Berkshire Publishing Group},
    author = {Mckay, Alex},
    year = {2009},
    note = {Edition: 1
    ISBN: 0977015947
    Pages: 2280–2284
    Publication Title: Berkshire Encyclopedia of China
    Volume: 5},
    }
  • A. Mckay, Tibetan Upris­ing of 1959Berkshire pub­lish­ing group, 2009.
    [Bib­tex]
    @misc{mckay_tibetan_2009,
    title = {Tibetan {Uprising} of 1959},
    language = {eng},
    publisher = {Berkshire Publishing Group},
    author = {Mckay, Alex},
    year = {2009},
    note = {Edition: 1
    ISBN: 0977015947
    Pages: 2285–2287
    Publication Title: Berkshire Encyclopedia of China
    Volume: 5},
    }
  • A. McKay, “ ‘That he may take due pride in the empire to which he belongs’: the edu­ca­tion of Maha­ra­jah Kumar sidkeon namgy­al Tulku of Sikkim,” Bul­let­in of tibet­o­logy, vol. 39, iss. 2, p. 27–52, 2003.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_that_2003,
    title = {'{That} he may take due pride in the empire to which he belongs': the education of {Maharajah} {Kumar} sidkeon namgyal {Tulku} of {Sikkim}},
    volume = {39},
    issn = {0525-1516},
    language = {eng},
    number = {2},
    journal = {Bulletin of Tibetology},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2003},
    keywords = {Tibet, Cultural studies, Empires, India, Political leadership, Political sociology, Regional studies, Religious studies, Sikkim, Social values, Sociology of religion},
    pages = {27--52},
    }
  • A. McKay, “Buddhism in Con­tem­por­ary Tibet: Reli­gious Reviv­al and Cul­tur­al Iden­tity. Edited by Melvyn C. Gold­stein and Math­ew T. Kapstein. [Berke­ley, Los Angeles and Lon­don: Uni­ver­sity of Cali­for­nia Press, 1998. 217 pp. \$15.95; £11.95. {ISBN} 0–520–21131–6.],” The china quarterly (lon­don), vol. 162, p. 582–583, 2000.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_buddhism_2000,
    title = {Buddhism in {Contemporary} {Tibet}: {Religious} {Revival} and {Cultural} {Identity}. {Edited} by {Melvyn} {C}. {Goldstein} and {Mathew} {T}. {Kapstein}. [{Berkeley}, {Los} {Angeles} and {London}: {University} of {California} {Press}, 1998. 217 pp. \$15.95; £11.95. {ISBN} 0-520-21131-6.]},
    volume = {162},
    issn = {0305-7410},
    language = {eng},
    journal = {The China quarterly (London)},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2000},
    pages = {582--583},
    }
  • A. McKay, “19th cen­tury Brit­ish Expan­sion on the Indo-Tibetan Fron­ti­er: A For­ward Per­spect­ive,” The tibet journ­al, vol. 28, iss. 4, p. 61–76, 2003.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_19th_2003,
    title = {19th century {British} {Expansion} on the {Indo}-{Tibetan} {Frontier}: {A} {Forward} {Perspective}},
    volume = {28},
    issn = {0970-5368},
    language = {eng},
    number = {4},
    journal = {The Tibet journal},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2003},
    note = {Publisher: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives},
    keywords = {Buddhism, Boggarts, Diplomacy, Environmental policy, Government initiatives, Lamas, Territories, Trade, Viceroys, War},
    pages = {61--76},
    }
  • A. McKay, “The indi­gen­isa­tion of west­ern medi­cine in Sikkim,” Bul­let­in of tibet­o­logy, vol. 40, iss. 2, p. 25–48, 2004.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_indigenisation_2004,
    title = {The indigenisation of western medicine in {Sikkim}},
    volume = {40},
    issn = {0525-1516},
    language = {eng},
    number = {2},
    journal = {Bulletin of Tibetology},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2004},
    keywords = {India, Sikkim, Drugs, Education, Indigenous culture, Medical anthropology, Pharmaceuticals, Traditional medicine, Westernization},
    pages = {25--48},
    }
  • A. McKay, ““An excel­lent meas­ure”: the battle against small­pox in Tibet, 1904–47,” The tibet journ­al, vol. 30/31, iss. 4/1, p. 119–130, 2005.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_excellent_2005,
    title = {"{An} excellent measure": the battle against smallpox in {Tibet}, 1904-47},
    volume = {30/31},
    issn = {0970-5368},
    language = {eng},
    number = {4/1},
    journal = {The Tibet journal},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2005},
    note = {Publisher: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives},
    keywords = {Diplomacy, Lamas, Annual reports, Children, Epidemics, Epidemiology, Lymph, Nationalism, Smallpox, Vaccination},
    pages = {119--130},
    }
  • A. McKay, “‘It seems he is an Enthu­si­ast about Tibet’: Lieu­ten­ant-Col­on­el James Guthrie, OBE (1906–71),” Journ­al of med­ic­al bio­graphy, vol. 13, iss. 3, p. 128–135, 2005.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_it_2005,
    title = {‘{It} seems he is an {Enthusiast} about {Tibet}’: {Lieutenant}-{Colonel} {James} {Guthrie}, {OBE} (1906–71)},
    volume = {13},
    copyright = {2005 SAGE Publications},
    issn = {0967-7720},
    abstract = {Of the more than 20 officers of the Indian Medical Service who served in Tibet during 1904–50, when British Indian diplomats were stationed in that Himalayan state, James Guthrie was perhaps the most successful both in gaining the goodwill of the Tibetans and in advancing the reputation of medicine there. A Scotsman, Guthrie served in various military hospitals in India before his posting to Gyantse in southern Tibet in 1934–36, and during World War II he rose to be Assistant Director of Medical Services at the 10th Army headquarters in Teheran and Baghdad. Guthrie preferred the more remote imperial postings, however, and in 1945 he was posted to the Tibetan capital of Lhasa as Medical Officer to the British mission there. With his wife, who had nursing experience, he remained there until 1949, enjoying the variety of medical challenges and displaying an ability to accommodate Tibetan cultural beliefs within the practice of medicine. After service in Kuwait he returned to the UK, where he practised in the Shetland Islands for five years before establishing his own practice near Lyme Regis, where he died in 1971.},
    language = {eng},
    number = {3},
    journal = {Journal of medical biography},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2005},
    note = {Place: London, England
    Publisher: SAGE Publications},
    keywords = {Tibet, United Kingdom, 20th Century, Guthrie, Guthrie J, History, History of medicine, Humans, Military Medicine - history},
    pages = {128--135},
    }
  • A. McKay, “The Drown­ing of Lama Sen­gchen Kya­by­ing: A Pre­lim­in­ary Enquiry from Brit­ish Sources,” The tibet journ­al, vol. 36, iss. 2, p. 3–18, 2011.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_drowning_2011,
    title = {The {Drowning} of {Lama} {Sengchen} {Kyabying}: {A} {Preliminary} {Enquiry} from {British} {Sources}},
    volume = {36},
    copyright = {COPYRIGHT 2011 Library of Tibetan Works and Archives},
    issn = {0970-5368},
    language = {eng},
    number = {2},
    journal = {The Tibet journal},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2011},
    note = {Publisher: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives},
    keywords = {Buddhism, Lamas, Aristocracy, Bank accounts, British literature, Brothers, Drowning, Exile, Indian literature, Monasteries},
    pages = {3--18},
    }
  • A. McKay, “Joseph S Alter (ed.) Asi­an medi­cine and glob­al­iz­a­tion, Encoun­ters with Asia, Phil­adelphia, Uni­ver­sity of Pennsylvania Press, 2005, pp. vi, 189, £29.50, US\$45.00 (hard­back 0–8122–3866–4),” Med­ic­al his­tory, vol. 50, iss. 3, p. 402–403, 2006.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_joseph_2006,
    title = {Joseph {S} {Alter} (ed.) {Asian} medicine and globalization, {Encounters} with {Asia}, {Philadelphia}, {University} of {Pennsylvania} {Press}, 2005, pp. vi, 189, £29.50, {US}\$45.00 (hardback 0-8122-3866-4)},
    volume = {50},
    issn = {0025-7273},
    language = {eng},
    number = {3},
    journal = {Medical history},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2006},
    pages = {402--403},
    }
  • E. R. Sulek, J. Bray, and A. McKay, “Intro­duc­tion: Wim van Spen­gen’s Worlds,” The tibet journ­al, vol. 39, iss. 1, p. 3–11, 2014.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{sulek_introduction_2014,
    title = {Introduction: {Wim} van {Spengen}'s {Worlds}},
    volume = {39},
    issn = {0970-5368},
    language = {eng},
    number = {1},
    journal = {The Tibet journal},
    author = {Sulek, Emilia Roza and Bray, John and McKay, Alex},
    year = {2014},
    note = {Publisher: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives},
    pages = {3--11},
    }
  • A. McKay, “Indi­an struc­tures, Sikkimese pro­cesses: on being unpre­pared for the (Indi­an) nation,” Asi­an eth­ni­city, vol. 22, iss. 2, p. pp272–289, 2021.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_indian_2021,
    title = {Indian structures, {Sikkimese} processes: on being unprepared for the ({Indian}) nation},
    volume = {22},
    copyright = {legaldeposit; © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor \& Francis Group},
    issn = {1463-1369},
    abstract = {ABSTRACT: In this article I draw on Robb"s insights ("The Colonial State and Constructions of Indian Identity" Modern Asian Studies, 1997), in discussing how during the British period (1888 to 1918), Indian structures were introduced and established in Sikkim closely following models used in British India. In areas such as law and justice, health, education, taxation and communication systems, Sikkim was structurally aligned with India. In contrast, however, the colonial era processes of national identity construction in Sikkim entirely excluded identification with an Indian Nation. Under the British, Sikkimese identity was constructed as a Tibetan Buddhist state comprising "indigenous" Bhutia-Lepcha citizens. That identity excluded immigrants whose origins were in the Gurkha kingdom. As a result of the social processes that imagined Sikkim as an (independent) Buddhist Nation, none of the ethnic communities in Sikkim identified themselves as "Indian", leaving Sikkim structurally equipped but socially unprepared for membership of an Indian Nation.},
    language = {eng},
    number = {2},
    journal = {Asian Ethnicity},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2021},
    note = {Publisher: Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group},
    keywords = {306.0895, Asia–Ethnic relations–Periodicals, Ethnicity–Asia–Periodicals, Ethnology–Asia–Periodicals, Sikkim–buddhist identity–structures–processes–modernisation},
    pages = {pp272--289},
    }
  • A. McKay, “Indif­fer­ence, Cul­tur­al Dif­fer­ence, and a Por­ous Fron­ti­er: Some Remarks on the His­tory of Recre­ation­al Drugs in the Tibetan Cul­tur­al World,” The tibet journ­al, vol. 39, iss. 1, p. 57–73, 2014.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_indifference_2014,
    title = {Indifference, {Cultural} {Difference}, and a {Porous} {Frontier}: {Some} {Remarks} on the {History} of {Recreational} {Drugs} in the {Tibetan} {Cultural} {World}},
    volume = {39},
    issn = {0970-5368},
    language = {eng},
    number = {1},
    journal = {The Tibet journal},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2014},
    note = {Publisher: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives},
    keywords = {Annual reports, Cannabis, Chinese culture, Cigarette smoking, Cigarettes, Narcotic dependence, Opium, Recreational drugs, South Asian culture, Tobacco smoking},
    pages = {57--73},
    }
  • A. McKay, “A For­got­ten Amer­ic­an: Fran­cis Nich­ols’ Quest for Lhasa, 1903-04,” Asi­an affairs (lon­don), vol. 46, iss. 2, p. 212–231, 2015.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_forgotten_2015,
    title = {A {Forgotten} {American}: {Francis} {Nichols}' {Quest} for {Lhasa}, 1903-04},
    volume = {46},
    copyright = {2015 The Royal Society for Asian Affairs 2015},
    issn = {0306-8374},
    abstract = {The New York-born journalist and travel writer Francis Nichols (1879-1904) is best known for his travels through early 20 th -century China. However, his attempt in 1903-4 to travel through Tibet to Lhasa ahead of the Younghusband Mission, and thus to become the first westerner to reach the city, has been forgotten, partly on account of his death in the field and the loss of his diary. From new research in recently-catalogued documents and letters in the archives of the American Geographical Society (AGS), the author has compiled an account of Nichols' mission to Lhasa, including the support he received from US backers, including the AGS, his travels in China, Tibet and India, and his relations with Younghusband and the British. Although Nichols was unable to reach Lhasa, the author observes that he should be credited as the first American to travel from India into the Chumbi valley in southern Tibet and across the Tibetan plateau from Phari to the town of Gyantse, 120 miles south-west of Lhasa.},
    language = {eng},
    number = {2},
    journal = {Asian affairs (London)},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2015},
    note = {Place: London
    Publisher: Routledge},
    pages = {212--231},
    }
  • A. McKay, ““The Birth of a Clin­ic”? The IMS Dis­pens­ary in Gyantse (Tibet), 1904–1910,” Med­ic­al his­tory, vol. 49, iss. 2, p. 135–154, 2005.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_birth_2005,
    title = {“{The} {Birth} of a {Clinic}”? {The} {IMS} {Dispensary} in {Gyantse} ({Tibet}), 1904–1910},
    volume = {49},
    copyright = {Copyright © The Author(s) 2005. Published by Cambridge University Press},
    issn = {0025-7273},
    abstract = {The establishment in 1904 of a British hospital at Gyantse, in southwestern Tibet, marked the formal introduction of biomedicine into that Himalayan state. In the ensuing decades, officers of the Indian Medical Service (IMS) offered treatment to Tibetans from their Gyantse base as a part of the British imperial relationship with the Tibetan state.},
    language = {eng},
    number = {2},
    journal = {Medical history},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2005},
    note = {Place: Cambridge, UK
    Publisher: Cambridge University Press},
    keywords = {Medicine, Tibet, United Kingdom, 20th Century, History, History of medicine, Humans, 20th century, Ambulatory Care Facilities - history, Arts \& Humanities, Biology, Developing Countries, Health Care Sciences \& Services, History \& Philosophy Of Science, History of science and technology, Life sciences, Life Sciences \& Biomedicine, pharmacy, Pharmacy, Science \& Technology, surgery, Therapeutics},
    pages = {135--154},
    }
  • A. McKay, “Berenice Guyot-Rechard, Shad­ow States: India, China and the Him­alay­as, 1910–1962,” Asi­an eth­no­logy, vol. 78, iss. 1, p. 197, 2019.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_berenice_2019,
    title = {Berenice {Guyot}-{Rechard}, {Shadow} {States}: {India}, {China} and the {Himalayas}, 1910-1962},
    volume = {78},
    copyright = {COPYRIGHT 2019 Nanzan University},
    issn = {1882-6865},
    language = {eng},
    number = {1},
    journal = {Asian ethnology},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2019},
    note = {Publisher: Nanzan University},
    keywords = {Book publishing},
    pages = {197},
    }
  • A. Mckay, “Towards a His­tory of Med­ic­al Mis­sions,” Med­ic­al his­tory, vol. 51, iss. 4, p. 547–551, 2007.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_towards_2007,
    title = {Towards a {History} of {Medical} {Missions}},
    volume = {51},
    copyright = {Copyright © The Author(s) 2007. Published by Cambridge University Press},
    issn = {0025-7273},
    language = {eng},
    number = {4},
    journal = {Medical history},
    author = {Mckay, Alex},
    year = {2007},
    note = {Place: Cambridge, UK
    Publisher: Cambridge University Press},
    keywords = {Arts \& Humanities, Health Care Sciences \& Services, History \& Philosophy Of Science, Life Sciences \& Biomedicine, Science \& Technology, Essay Review, Review},
    pages = {547--551},
    }
  • A. McKay, “The Brit­ish Inva­sion of Tibet, 1903-04,” Inner asia (white horse press), vol. 14, iss. 1, p. 5–25, 2012.
    [Bib­tex]
    @article{mckay_british_2012,
    title = {The {British} {Invasion} of {Tibet}, 1903–04},
    volume = {14},
    copyright = {2012 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands},
    issn = {1464-8172},
    abstract = {In 1903–04, British forces under the command of the Indian Political Officer, Colonel Francis Younghusband, invaded Tibet. After failed negotiations and a series of battles in which Younghusband's modern weaponry vanquished Tibetan forces, the British entered Lhasa and imposed a treaty on the Tibetans. While a fear of Russian influence in Lhasa was the main reason given for the invasion, Tibet's policy of isolating itself from British India was probably a more significant cause. The subsequent withdrawal of the British from Lhasa created a power vacuum which enabled the Chinese to re-establish their authority at Lhasa. This article gives an overview of the main issues, events and personalities involved in the invasion.},
    language = {eng},
    number = {1},
    journal = {Inner Asia (White Horse Press)},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2012},
    note = {Place: The Netherlands
    Publisher: Global Oriental},
    keywords = {Political history, Tibet, Political conditions, United Kingdom, India, Lamas, Viceroys, War, Indian literature, Monasteries, American literature, Colonial government, DALAI LAMA, Foreign policy, HISTORY AND HISTORICAL SOURCES, INVASION, ISOLATION, Isolationism, LOOTING, Military diplomacy, Military intervention, Porters, Power relations, Trade regulations, Weapons},
    pages = {5--25},
    }
  • I. Yumiko and A. McKay, The Early 20th Cen­tury Resur­gence of the Tibetan Buddhist World: Stud­ies in Cent­ral Asi­an Buddhism, Ams­ter­dam: Ams­ter­dam uni­ver­sity press, 2022.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{yumiko_early_2022,
    address = {Amsterdam},
    title = {The {Early} 20th {Century} {Resurgence} of the {Tibetan} {Buddhist} {World}: {Studies} in {Central} {Asian} {Buddhism}},
    isbn = {978-90-485-5306-8},
    shorttitle = {The {Early} 20th {Century} {Resurgence} of the {Tibetan} {Buddhist} {World}},
    abstract = {The Early 20th Century Resurgence of the Tibetan Buddhist World is a cohesive collection of studies by Japanese, Russian and Central Asian scholars deploying previously unexplored Russian, Mongolian, and Tibetan sources concerning events and processes in the Central Asian Buddhist world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Set in the final days of the Qing empire when Russian and British empires were expanding into Central Asia, this work examines the interplay of religious, economic and political power among peoples who acknowledged the religious authority of Tibet's Dalai Lama. It focuses on diplomatic initiatives involving the 13th Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist hierarchs during and after his exile in Mongolia and China, as well as his relations with Mongols, and with Buriat, Kalmyk, and other Russian Buddhists. It demonstrates how these factors shaped historical processes in the region, not least the reformulations of both group identity and political consciousness},
    language = {eng},
    publisher = {Amsterdam University Press},
    author = {Yumiko, Ishihama and McKay, Alex},
    year = {2022},
    note = {OCLC: 1294144673},
    }
  • New devel­op­ments in Asi­an stud­ies: an intro­duc­tion, P. van der Velde and A. McKay, Eds., Lon­don ; New York : Leiden: Kegan paul inter­na­tion­al ; in asso­ci­ation with the inter­na­tion­al insti­tute for asi­an stud­ies, 1998.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{velde_new_1998,
    address = {London ; New York : Leiden},
    series = {Studies from the {International} {Institute} for {Asian} {Studies}},
    title = {New developments in {Asian} studies: an introduction},
    isbn = {978-0-7103-0606-7},
    shorttitle = {New developments in {Asian} studies},
    publisher = {Kegan Paul International ; in association with the International Institute for Asian Studies},
    editor = {Velde, Paul van der and McKay, Alex},
    year = {1998},
    keywords = {Asia},
    }
  • Hi-ma-la-ya’i nang pa sang rgy­as pa’i chos dang rgy­al rabs, rig gzhung gi zhib ’jug, 1. saṃs­karana ed., T. T. Josayma, Bstan-pa-ñi-ma, A. McKay, A. Balikci-Den­­jongpa, and N. I. of Tibet­o­logy, Eds., Gang­tok, Sikkim: Rnam-rgy­al bod-kyi śes-rig ñams-źib-khaṅ, 2011.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{tashi_tsering_josayma_hi-ma--yai_2011,
    address = {Gangtok, Sikkim},
    edition = {1. saṃskarana},
    title = {Hi-ma-la-yaʼi nang pa sang rgyas paʼi chos dang rgyal rabs, rig gzhung gi zhib ʼjug},
    isbn = {978-81-922261-0-1 978-81-922261-1-8 978-81-922261-4-9},
    abstract = {Collectection of contributed articles presented during Golden jubilee Conference of the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology heldy on Oct. 1-5, 2008 on the theme of Buddhist Himalaya studies in religion, history, and culture},
    language = {tib eng},
    publisher = {Rnam-rgyal Bod-kyi Śes-rig Ñams-źib-khaṅ},
    editor = {Tashi Tsering Josayma and Bstan-pa-ñi-ma and McKay, Alex and Balikci-Denjongpa, Anna and Namgyal Institute of Tibetology},
    year = {2011},
    keywords = {Buddhism, History, Buddhism and culture, Civilization Buddhist influences, Congresses, Himalaya Mountains Region, Religion},
    }
  • A. McKay, The team that changed rugby forever: the 1967 All Blacks, Lon­don: New hol­land, 2017.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{mckay_team_2017,
    address = {London},
    title = {The team that changed rugby forever: the 1967 {All} {Blacks}},
    isbn = {978-1-86966-472-5},
    shorttitle = {The team that changed rugby forever},
    abstract = {"The 1967 All Blacks went unbeaten through their tour of the northern hemisphere, introducing a notable 15-man attacking style, which is still a feature of New Zealand rugby today ... Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, this is not just the story of a rugby tour and a team of successful players; author Alex McKay has produced a social history having interviewed the members of the side that toured the British Isles, France and Canada - a team of amateur players; young talented Kiwi lads, who in reality "worked all week and played rugby at the weekend". During a period of radical change in the world, a bunch of essentially conservative men produced a radical change in the game in the game of rugby"--Back cover},
    language = {eng},
    publisher = {New Holland},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2017},
    note = {OCLC: 968763258},
    }
  • A. McKay, Kailas his­tor­ies: renun­ci­ate tra­di­tions and the con­struc­tion of Him­alay­an sac­red geo­graphy, Leiden ; Boston: Brill, 2015.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{mckay_kailas_2015,
    address = {Leiden ; Boston},
    series = {Brill's {Tibetan} studies library},
    title = {Kailas histories: renunciate traditions and the construction of {Himalayan} sacred geography},
    isbn = {978-90-04-30458-1},
    shorttitle = {Kailas histories},
    number = {volume 38},
    publisher = {Brill},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2015},
    keywords = {History, China Kailas, Mount, Hindu pilgrims and pilgrimages, Kailas, Mount (China), Religious life and customs, Tibet Autonomous Region (China), Tibet region},
    }
  • A. McKay, Their foot­prints remain: bio­med­ic­al begin­nings across the Indo-Tibetan fron­ti­er, Ams­ter­dam: Ams­ter­dam uni­ver­sity press, 2007.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{mckay_their_2007,
    address = {Amsterdam},
    series = {{IIAS} publications series. {Monographs}},
    title = {Their footprints remain: biomedical beginnings across the {Indo}-{Tibetan} frontier},
    isbn = {978-90-5356-518-6},
    shorttitle = {Their footprints remain},
    number = {1},
    publisher = {Amsterdam University Press},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2007},
    note = {OCLC: ocn192072380},
    keywords = {Medicine, History, 20th century, Tibet Autonomous Region (China), 19th century, Bhutan, Sikkim (India)},
    }
  • Tibet and her neigh­bours: a his­tory, A. McKay, Ed., Lon­don: Edi­tion hans­jörg may­er, 2003.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{mckay_tibet_2003,
    address = {London},
    title = {Tibet and her neighbours: a history},
    isbn = {978-3-88375-718-6},
    shorttitle = {Tibet and her neighbours},
    publisher = {Edition Hansjörg Mayer},
    editor = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2003},
    note = {OCLC: ocm52784305},
    keywords = {History, Tibet Autonomous Region (China), Foreign relations},
    }
  • The his­tory of Tibet, A. McKay, Ed., Lon­don ; New York: Rout­ledge­curzon, 2003.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{mckay_history_2003,
    address = {London ; New York},
    title = {The history of {Tibet}},
    isbn = {978-0-7007-1508-4 978-0-415-30842-7 978-0-415-30843-4 978-0-415-30844-1},
    publisher = {RoutledgeCurzon},
    editor = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {2003},
    note = {OCLC: ocm50494840},
    keywords = {History, Tibet Autonomous Region (China)},
    }
  • A. McKay, Pil­grim­age in Tibet, Rich­mond, Sur­rey: Curzon : inter­na­tion­al insti­tute for asi­an stud­ies, 1998.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{mckay_pilgrimage_1998,
    address = {Richmond, Surrey},
    title = {Pilgrimage in {Tibet}},
    isbn = {978-1-136-80716-9},
    language = {eng},
    publisher = {Curzon : International Institute for Asian Studies},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {1998},
    note = {OCLC: 865579026},
    }
  • A. McKay, Tibet and the Brit­ish Raj: the fron­ti­er cadre, 1904–1947, Rich­mond, Sur­rey: Curzon, 1997.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{mckay_tibet_1997,
    address = {Richmond, Surrey},
    series = {London studies on {South} {Asia}},
    title = {Tibet and the {British} {Raj}: the frontier cadre, 1904-1947},
    isbn = {978-0-7007-0627-3},
    shorttitle = {Tibet and the {British} {Raj}},
    number = {no. 14},
    publisher = {Curzon},
    author = {McKay, Alex},
    year = {1997},
    keywords = {History, 20th century, Tibet Autonomous Region (China), British, China Tibet},
    }
  • Medi­cine between sci­ence and reli­gion: explor­a­tions on Tibetan grounds, V. Adams, M. Schr­em­pf, and S. R. Craig, Eds., New York: Berghahn books, 2011.
    [Bib­tex]
    @book{adams_medicine_2011,
    address = {New York},
    title = {Medicine between science and religion: explorations on {Tibetan} grounds},
    isbn = {978-1-84545-974-1},
    shorttitle = {Medicine between science and religion},
    language = {eng},
    publisher = {Berghahn Books},
    editor = {Adams, Vincanne and Schrempf, Mona and Craig, Sienna R.},
    year = {2011},
    note = {OCLC: 732958381},
    }