{i} breaking up of a region into small units; division of a group into smaller and hostile units; division of a labor market into many economic and geographic branches with each having its own internal labor maket (also Balkanisation)
The spellings balkanization, and in British English balkanisation are also used. disapproval If you disapprove of the division of a country into separate independent states, you can refer to the Balkanization of the country. We can't accept the fragmentation or balkanization of the country. the practice of dividing a country into separate independent states - used to show disapproval (Balkans, the name of an area of southeast Europe with many small states that often fight each other)