Areas of Disputed Sovereignty
Some areas in the former Soviet bloc are, at the time of writing, subject to disputed sovereignty whether in ongoing warfare or in what is termed “frozen conflict”. This page examines subject headings which relate to five of these places - parts of Ukraine, East Ukraine, Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Transnistria.
The Library of Congress, as an arm of the United States Congress, follows U.S. official foreign policy in terms of its geographic subject headings. Since Congress does not recognize the Russian Federation’s annexation of Ukrainian territory, for example, the Library of Congress’ authority file continues to place these territories within Ukraine. The key rule is that the cataloger must work with the subject headings provided by Library of Congress. New headings are added on a weekly basis; these weekly lists can be found here. Changes and additions to LCSH to reflect current affairs are often made fairly slowly. Those with access to Classification Web can also see proposed new headings, but these are not to be used unless and until they are approved formally for use as LCSH.
The guidance below addresses area-specific subject headings and ends with a section about certain applicable subdivisions which the cataloger might find useful.
UKRAINE
Russian aggression, occupation, and illegal annexations from 2014 onwards
Crimea
The 2014 referendum in Crimea which resulted in its annexation by Russia has never been recognised (and the annexation therefore considered illegal) by many countries, including the United States.
Crimea therefore remains listed in the LC headings file as part of Ukraine - Crimea (Ukraine). In order to refer to the Russian annexation of the peninsula, the cataloger may apply the free-floating subdivision --Annexation to [name of country], thus:
Crimea (Ukraine)--Annexation to Russia (Federation)
East Ukraine
Prior to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022, Russia supported the formation of two self-declared republics, the Donet︠s︡kai︠a︡ Narodnai︠a︡ Respublika and Luganskai︠a︡ Narodnai︠a︡ Respublika, sometimes referred to collectively as the confederation Novorossii︠a︡.
None of these geopolitical entities has been recognised by the wider international community. Nonetheless, both self-declared republics do appear in the LC name authority files on the principle of literary warrant (based first on their own “governmental” publications) as Donet︠s︡kai︠a︡ Narodnai︠a︡ Respublika and Luganskai︠a︡ Narodnai︠a︡ Respublika. There is also a heading for Novorossii︠a︡. These headings are not currently to be used as subject headings. They are currently under discussion at the Library of Congress, so a definitive policy will be forthcoming soon.
The cataloguer should continue to use the LC subject headings relating to the whole oblasts within which these self-declared republics appeared; these headings continue to confirm the status of these oblasts as parts of sovereign Ukraine: (Donet︠s︡ʹka oblastʹ (Ukraine) and Luhansʹka oblastʹ (Ukraine).
In September 2022, 7 months into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia orchestrated referenda in Donet︠s︡ʹka oblastʹ, Luhansʹka oblastʹ, Khersonsʹka oblastʹ, and Zaporizʹka oblastʹ and declared its annexation of these regions. Again, the referenda and annexations have been dismissed by the international community.
The cataloguer should continue to use the standard LC headings for these areas, which reflect their ongoing status as parts of sovereign Ukraine:
Where appropriate, the cataloguer can also apply the subdivision --Annexation to Russia (Federation) after each of these.
Other subject headings
The LCSH Ukraine Conflict, 2014- (a direct heading, rather than a chronological subdivision, following LC practice for “undeclared” wars) was introduced in 2015 to cover events from 2014 onwards. In 2022, the specific heading Ukraine--History--Russian Invasion, 2022- was introduced. Note that this is a narrower term within Ukraine Conflict, 2014- .
UNRECOGNIZED STATES
The areas discussed below are so-called “frozen conflict” areas. Following armed conflict, they have claimed independent sovereignty but these claims have gained little international recognition. The Library of Congress, following U.S. foreign policy, treats these areas as part of the larger post-Soviet state from which they claim secession. Each section below contains the primary subject heading for the area, followed by the LCSH for the conflict which led to that area’s self-declared independence.
Abkhazia
Main LCSH: Abkhazia (Georgia)
LCSH for conflict: Abkhazia (Georgia)--History--Uprising, 1992-1993
Nagorno-Karabakh
Main LCSH: Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan)
LCSH for conflict: Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, 1988-1994 [direct heading]
South Ossetia
Main LCSH: South Ossetia (Georgia)
LCSH for conflict: South Ossetia War, 2008 [direct heading]
Transnistria
Main LCSH: Dniester Moldovan Republic
There is no LCSH for the 1992 conflict which led to the self-declared Transnistrian state.
Catalogers should, however, be aware that there is a subject heading for one of the main causes of the conflict: Moldova--History--Declaration of Independence, 1991.
RELEVANT SUBDIVISIONS
[Note: For catalogers without access to Cataloger’s Desktop, authorities for subdivisions themselves must be accessed through the Library of Congress’ Linked Data Service site (the main LC authority online file does not include these).]
The most obvious subdivisions to apply for areas of disputed sovereignty would be:
--Politics and government (+ chronological subdivision as appropriate)
e.g., Crimea (Ukraine)--Politics and government--21st century
--Relations (+ name of the appropriate country, with a reciprocal entry with the country first and area last)
e.g., Abkhazia (Georgia)--Relations--Georgia (Republic)
with Georgia (Republic)--Relations--Georgia--Abkhazia
In the case of many areas of disputed sovereignty, their existence relates to tensions between the country they have declared secession from and the Russian Federation. The cataloger will therefore also find that it is often relevant to provide Relations subject headings for those countries. For example, a book about the 2014- conflict in eastern Ukraine might warrant the following LCSH: Ukraine--Relations--Russia (Federation)--History--21st century and
Russia (Federation)--Relations--Ukraine--History--21st century.
Note that Military relations is only used for “non-hostile military relations and/or cooperation between one region or jurisdiction and another” (general note from record (sh 85085278))
Among other subdivisions that the cataloger might consider are:
--History--Autonomy and independence movements
Use as a topical subdivision under names of countries, etc. (general note from record)
Note that the subdivision --Autonomy and independence movements is not applicable without History preceding it.
--Ethnic relations
Use as a topical subdivision under names of countries, cities, etc. (general note from record)
--International status
Use as a topical subdivision under names of countries, cities, etc., and bodies of water (general note from record (sh 00006353))
--Annexation to [name of country]
As demonstrated in the Ukraine section above.
The cataloger might also think that --Territorial questions (sh2001009117) could be an appropriate subdivision to use. Be aware, however, that [a] this subdivision must only be used under individual wars and [b] LC uses this subdivision almost exclusively for the World Wars rather than for more recent conflicts.
See also: Authorized Access Points for Countries and Areas in the Former Soviet Space
Revised by Mel Bach, February 24, 2023