Balkanize

: The disintegration of the USSR into 15 independent republics is a classic 20th-century example.

: Division usually occurs along pre-existing cultural, linguistic, or ethnic boundaries where local groups seek self-determination. balkanize

: Historically, the term also refers to a strategy used by larger powers to weaken a rival by encouraging its internal division. Historical & Contemporary Examples : The disintegration of the USSR into 15

To is to divide a larger region or country into smaller, mutually hostile states or groups. This process is often driven by conflicting ethnic, religious, or political interests. Key Characteristics Historical & Contemporary Examples To is to divide

: It is a popular trope in alternate history , often depicting a fragmented "Divided States of America". Balkanize Me - TV Tropes

: The term originated from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century and was cemented by the violent breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.