Balkanize

American  

[bawl-kuh-nahyz] / ˈbɔl kəˌnaɪz /

especially British, Balkanise

verb (used with object)

Balkanized, Balkanizing

1. to divide (a country, territory, etc.) into small, quarrelsome, ineffectual states.

2. (often lowercase) to divide (groups, areas, etc.) into contending and usually ineffectual factions.

   a movement to balkanize minority voters.

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Balkanize British  

/ ˈbɔːlkəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to divide (a territory) into small warring states

2. to divide (a group or organization) into small factions

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Other Word Forms

• Balkanism noun
• Balkanization noun
• Balkanized adjective

Etymology

Origin of Balkanize

First recorded in 1915–20; Balkan + -ize

Example Sentences

Since TV now is such a Balkanized affair.

From Los Angeles Times

The administrative oversight of these public investments including county and city governments and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority is highly Balkanized with predictable results.

From Seattle Times

Highlighting the popular perception of America as increasingly Balkanized, the study also found that even as Americans appeared to be more cooperative than expected in their experiment, participants perceived Americans collectively as uncooperative.

From Salon

“We have this Balkanized health care system, and the system is a giant mess,” said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport.

From New York Times

“Balkanized, inconsistent regulations won’t help and could actually make things worse,” he said.

From New York Times