Toponymic reallocation in the South Caucasus: the examples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Abstract

Studying the cases of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, this article highlights two central issues regarding toponymy in a territory of disputed sovereignty. On the one hand, competing cartographies may emerge with a (re)known toponym used by the de jure state (here Georgia) and a toponym used by local actors but not recognised, proposed by the de facto state (here Abkhazia and South Ossetia). On the other hand, it is the majority-recognised state (here Georgia) that is able to impose its version of toponymy internationally, and not the de facto state that controls the territory in practice (here Abkhazia and South Ossetia), even if the latter is supported by a power such as Russia. State recognition is therefore crucial for ‘cartographic sovereignty’.