Since the time of N. N. Miklukho-Maklay, an outstanding Russian traveler and humanist scientist, working in New Guinea, the study of geography, history and ethnology of the peoples of this huge island has become a good tradition of Russian science. The reviewed monograph is not the first address of the famous Russian ethnographer N. A. Butinov to this topic: Back in 1968, his book "Papuans of New Guinea" was published (Moscow, Nauka). The latest work of the St. Petersburg researcher does not repeat the past, it is a fundamental study that not only summarizes and analyzes extensive material on the ethnography of the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea, but also, in fact, for the first time in Russian literature, examines the evolution of native societies in the conditions of the formation of modern statehood on the island. The study of the specifics of the adaptation of traditional societies to the realities of the modern world and the perception of these realities in the system of familiar ideological coordinates remains one of the most important tasks of modern science, in particular Oriental studies. Understanding these processes has not only cognitive and purely theoretical value, but also quite practical significance for many states and regions of the modern world. That is why N. A. Butinov's new monograph, while fully preserving its value as an ethnographic study, can and should be considered as a significant contribution to the study of the mental aspects of the mutual influence of civilizations, which are powerfully manifested during the development of the globalization process.

N. A. Butinov is well aware of the results of field research conducted by ethnographers in New Guinea, and he is well versed in the vast array of domestic and foreign literature on the subject of his research. The list of literature he uses includes 760 titles in Russian, English, German,and French. An analysis of the work already done by ethnographers on the study of the indigenous population of the island is carried out in the special section "On the history of ethnographic study" (pp. 21-34).

A peer-reviewed monograph can be divided into two parts: ethnographic and ethnopolitical. In the ethnographic sections, the author examines the process of tribal formation in the Papua New Guinean society, identifies changes in the language situation, explains the role of the Papuan village in transmitting the cultural and mental characteristics of the native world to subsequent generations, and carefully analyzes the social, ideological and cultural aspects of initiation rites.

On the example of New Guinea, we consider such an important and universal phenomenon in the evolution of primitive society as the existence of bigmen - "big people", who, according to the author, act as carriers of a kind of elite culture of the tribe. The activity of bigmen to expand their sphere of influence in New Guinea is one of the main factors in the development of ethnic consolidation processes (pp. 105, 112, 124).

N. A. Butinov's conclusions about the specifics of Papuan ideas about kinship (kinship by feeding) are interesting and convincing. The ethnographer considers kinship not so much as a biological, but as a social phenomenon. From these positions, the views on the structure of the clan and clans, the role of the family, and the place of men and women in Papua New Guinean society, which are still generally accepted in ethnographic science, are corrected. In the name of scientific objectivity, the author sometimes subjects his own conclusions contained in his early works to a drastic revision. Thus, the size of Papuan communities was defined by him as a derivative of the "maximum economic function": "This is a function that requires the simultaneous participation and joint efforts of all members of the community" (p.77). However, field research in New Guinea by the author himself, as well as a number of foreign ethnographers, forced him to rethink this judgment, which goes back to the economic determinism characteristic of Marxism, and to consider the community rather as a socio-political unit. The ability of this unit to resolve unavoidable internal conflicts and provide a stable environment for the future.-

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the stable coexistence of its constituent parts (vemuns and families) determines its size, which, however, does not in any way completely negate the economic functions inherent in the community (p.80, 90).

An important part of the monograph is the sections on the penetration of Europeans into Papua New Guinea, on the beginning and main stages of colonization of the island by the British, Germans, and Australians. N. A. Butinov avoids the sweeping condemnation of colonialism that was characteristic of Russian historiography in the past. Along with the negative consequences of European domination, the author also notes certain positive aspects in the activities of the white administration (attempts to stop internecine wars, efforts to organize education and health systems for aborigines). The role of the colonial authorities as a catalyst for the processes of ethnic and linguistic unification of native society is also noted. The division into districts and the creation of their administrative centers for the purpose of organizing colonial control and administration created factors that contributed to the beginning of the process of consolidation of the population of this district. A certain local "language of interethnic communication" appeared and gradually spread. Religious missions and schools organized by both missionaries and the colonial authorities played a similar role as factors of unification (p.50).

In the ethnopolitical sections of the monograph devoted to the development of native society in New Guinea in the run-up to and in the first years of the independent state's existence, N. A. Butinov's analysis of the peculiarities of the indigenous population's adaptation to the economic and political innovations of the modern world is of the greatest interest. "The Papua New Guineans did not object to the adoption of some Western customs and norms... but they strongly opposed the abandonment of many of their traditions" (p. 259). This approach has determined the features of market relations, European principles of self-government and state structure, and the functioning of the judicial system taking root in a number of communities on the island.

The establishment of market relations in the economy, as N. A. Butinov showed on the example of the Erap, Mbuk and Purari projects, inevitably followed the path of spreading various forms of cooperation. The economic life of the indigenous population is characterized by a bizarre mixture of market and traditional natural forms of economy, in which each of them supports and develops the other.

An equally peculiar combination of the new and traditional is noted by the author when analyzing the process of formation of the modern system of local self-government and the state structure of Papua New Guinea, as well as the judicial system. Thus, in the activities of local councils-elected bodies designed to solve local problems and organized by the colonial authorities after the end of World War II - the completely European principle of self-government is harmoniously combined with the traditional ideas of indigenous people about ways to solve urgent social problems. Intermediaries play a special role in determining the final decision of the elected members of the council. Usually these are bigmen of the village who have a high authority among their fellow tribesmen. They are the ones who are able to reconcile the disputants and work out a solution that suits all members of the council. At the same time, the principle of unanimity is mandatory: a majority decision is unacceptable, since those who are " against "can use black magic against those who are" for " (p.294). Similarly, in the work of village courts, there is a compromise between European and traditional ideas of law. For a village court consisting of local residents, the main thing is not just to punish the culprit, but to reconcile him with the victims and extinguish the conflict, and this should be done in such a way as not to provoke the offender or those offended to use witchcraft and black magic (p.310-312). Local councils and village courts gradually expanded their functions and eventually became the basis of the public administration system of independent Papua New Guinea. The level of traditional culture of the indigenous population also had to be taken into account in the election of State authorities (the House of Assembly). In the context of strong linguistic and tribal divisions, the preferential voting system was the only acceptable one, and the counting of votes was often carried out according to the length of human columns lined up at polling stations in support of a particular candidate.

N. A. Butinov emphasizes that all Western ideas are perceived by indigenous people exclusively through the prism of their traditional ideas and beliefs. And the white people themselves "Papuans and Melanesians take for the spirits of their ancestors" (p. 261). The consequence

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these representations were caused by the appearance of cargo cults. During the years of colonial rule, cargo cultures were a peculiar form of anti-colonial protest; over time, they began to acquire a political character, often turning into the beginnings of political parties (p.269).

The author raises a fundamental question: is it possible to combine the traditions and ideas of primitive society with modern innovations and gives an affirmative answer. The changes in initiation rites under the influence of Europeans have been thoroughly analyzed - they have lost some of their painful character, but they still mean the second birth of initiates and their entry into the world of adult men (p. 212 et seq.). A fairly complete and harmonious combination of traditional and new ideas for Papuans is illustrated by the example of the life path and evolution of self-consciousness of Albert Maori Kiki, a Papuan who was born in the Stone Age and became the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the independent state of Papua New Guinea in the 1970s.

The facts presented by N. A. Butinov regarding the preservation of the traditional way of life in the context of global changes generated by Europeanization convincingly confirm his position: traditions do not disappear, they are modified and adapted to innovations. "Two worlds, mutually enriching, not always peacefully, but coexist" (p. 323). This is exactly the way that the formation of a single modern nation in Papua New Guinea is taking place. The complexity and uniqueness of this process, as the author emphasizes, increase the practical significance of the work of ethnologists, the importance of studying and taking into account the peculiarities of traditional society when developing plans for the development of an independent state (p.342).

Naturally, in the study devoted to the ethnographic history of the peoples of Papua New Guinea, the author could not but mention the work on the islandof N. N. Miklukho-Maklaya. The special chapter of the monograph devoted to the scientist was the result of the study of his life and activities conducted by N. A. Butinov as one of the leading members of the creative team for the preparation of a new six-volume collection of the traveler's works, the results of which the author repeatedly reported at the annual Maklaev readings at the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. Peter the Great and at conferences on the study of Australia and Oceania at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In the reviewed work, the author describes in detail the reasons why N. N. Miklouho-Maclay chose New Guinea as the main region for his search for the original form of human races, about the research and scientific results of the scientist's activities on the island. The reasons why N. N. Miklukho-Maklay was reluctant and did not fully publish the results of his field observations, N. A. Butinov sees that the Russian traveler was afraid that his information might fall into the hands of colonialists and thereby harm the indigenous people of New Guinea, Malacca and other regions where he conducted his research. "When it is necessary to choose between the good of humanity and the benefit for science, N. N. Miklukho-Maklay chooses the former" (p. 249).

N. A. Butinov also pays much attention to the struggle of N. N. Miklukho-Maklay to prevent the enslavement of New Guinea by British and German colonialists and the attempt of the Russian scientist to create an independent Papuan state-the Papuan Union. We can agree with the author that this attempt was based primarily on the humanistic aspirations of N. N. Miklukho-Maklay, his unshakeable, though rather naive belief in the possibility of protecting "their" Papuans from the hardships of colonial captivity. At the same time, N. A. Butinov seems to underestimate such a significant factor of the Russian scientist's political activity as the desire to help Russia create its own sphere of influence in Oceania, which stems from his patriotic motives. The traveler repeatedly wrote about this to Alexander III and the Russian Foreign Minister N. K. Girs. Obviously, it was precisely these considerations that guided N. N. Miklukho-Maklay in his well-known attempt to organize a Russian colony in New Guinea or on one of the islands of Oceania that were not occupied by Europeans.

In a peer-reviewed work written in a good literary language and generally carefully verified in preparation for publication, you can find only some minor flaws and stylistic flaws, which, of course, do not reduce its high rating. For example: On page 31, the Center for Hawaiian Studies is translated as the Center for Hawaiian Studies; on pages 128 and 156, 127 and 129, there are repetitions. Page 22 refers to the visit of the President of the USSR to Israel in 1982, but such a position in the power hierarchy of the USSR did not exist at that time, and the head of any of the branches of the Soviet administration at that time could not possibly visit this country. Apparently, we are talking about the visit of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to Israel in 1992.

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p. 257 the author writes that after the end of the First World War, in addition to the territory of Papua, which the Union of Australia had ruled since 1906, Australia received a League of Nations mandate to govern the former German New Guinea and "the colony as a whole was called the Territory of Papua and New Guinea". Meanwhile, during this period, Papua (a colony of Australia) and New Guinea (a mandatory territory of Australia) were separate administrative units, did not have a common name, and each had its own colonial administration (as the author, however, mentions on the same page 257). That is why the Governor of Papua, J. G. Murray (in the book his last name is transliterated not exactly-Murray) could not govern and did not manage the mandated territory of New Guinea, as described on p. 255.

The reviewed work is provided with interesting illustrations and is well printed. The introductory article by the executive editor of the publication A.M. Reshetov outlines the life path and creative achievements of N. A. Butinov.

Unfortunately, N. A. Butinov passed away in December 2000. His last monograph was a worthy completion of a long and fruitful service to science, a significant contribution to Russian ethnography, to the development of research in the field of theory and practice of intercivilizational contacts.

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