Balkanization

 Balkanization is the process of a country or region breaking up into smaller, often hostile units. It's usually caused by differences in ethnicity, religion, culture, or geopolitical interests.

How did the term originate? 

The term comes from the breakup of the Ottoman Empire after World War I in the Balkans.

The term was also used to describe the breakup of Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1992.

The Russian Empire used balkanization in the late 19th century to create nations in the Balkan region.

What are the consequences of balkanization?

Balkanization has led to ethnic cleansing, genocide, and civil war. 

Balkanization has been used as a policy tool to weaken states that may threaten their neighbors. 

The term has a negative connotation because of the violence and atrocities that have occurred during the process. 

Examples of balkanization

The breakup of the Ottoman Empire after World War I 

The breakup of Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1992 

The dissolution of the British and French colonial empires in Africa in the 1950s and '60s