balkanize

present singular third person balkanizes · participle present balkanizing · participle past balkanized · past balkanized

1. Alternative letter-case form of Balkanize.

   1 more example

   And while political analysts and government officials in the region say the spreading Sunni disillusionment with Shiites and their backers in Iran will benefit Sunni-led governments and the United States, they and others worry that the tensions could start to balkanize the region as they have in Iraq itself.

   2007 January 17, Michael Slackman, “Hangings Fuel Sectarian Split Across Mideast”, in New York Times

present singular third person Balkanizes · participle present Balkanizing · participle past Balkanized · past Balkanized · alternative Balkanise · alternative balkanise · alternative balkanize

1. transitiveTo break up into small, mutually-hostile units, especially on a political basis.

   The Pentagon and the CIA were being Balkanized, partially dismantled, and a Congressional investigation had focused on Screaming Fist.

   1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 83