The Community Doukhobors: A People in Transition. 2nd ed.

Joseph Leydon teaches geography at the University of Toronto.

In 1899, some 7500 Doukhobors fled religious and political persecution
in their native Russia to settle in the Canadian Prairies. Life was far
from simple in their new home. Their belief in economic communalism and
their rejection of the oath of allegiance ran counter to the Canadian
mainstream. Conflict with the Canadian government, and suspicion and
opposition from other immigrant groups, made them the focus of much
public scrutiny. The survival of the Doukhobor community was further
threatened by internal discord fueled by philosophical divisions. These
divisions, coupled with the hostility of the authorities, resulted in
the resettlement of a portion of the community onto private lands in
British Columbia.

This second edition of a book originally published in 1986 is intended
to mark the approaching centenary of the Doukhobors’ arrival in
Canada. The authors argue that treatments of the Doukhobors have focused
too much attention on a radical minority within the community, and have
made little attempt to understand Doukhobor culture. Their exploration
of the origins of the Doukhobors in Russia, and their transfer to and
settlement in Canada, provides a strong basis for a discussion of the
core beliefs and values of the Doukhobor community. Much attention is
given to the community’s struggle to maintain its beliefs and values
in the face of encroaching modernization.

This well-organized, comprehensive, and enlightening study enhances our
understanding of a unique community.