bal·kan·ize \ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌnīz\transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Usage: often capitalized Etymology:Balkan peninsula + English -ize; from the way in which this territory has been broken up into many small states : to break up (as a region) into smaller ineffectual and frequently conflicting units < opposes the partition of Germany, and holds that the economic consequences of Balkanizing the country would be serious — Times Literary Supplement >