Avoid Balkanization.
I only ask because I sat in a faculty meeting today (did I mention that every male in the Social Studies department has his Specialist degree?) where this phrase was used and
So, not trying to put you on the spot, don't cheat. Give it your best definition in the comments and then I will come back.
Inquiring minds want to know.
5 comments:
To this math teacher, it means to split up a group of ethnicities into its smaller component groups. These smaller groups, now more "pure" and homogenous, promptly battle it out, sure of their own individual superiority, in an attempt to remake all of the groups in their own image. Once all the neighbors have been conquered and subsumed into the one, the process starts all over again.
So there's nuances of racism/groupism, of splitting into groups and of uneasy coexistence or outright hostility.
As a generalization, it means that an organization has a number of small groups dedicated to the improvement of themselves over the good of the whole - often leading to worsening conditions for everyone - themselves included.
It comes from what has been happening in the Balkans since long before WWI - and it can be argued that his is what led to WWI (and thus WWII, which was a direct reaction to the Treaty of Versailles)
... and I teach math ... and only took the requirements for history in college! :p)
Being too small, and ingrown, to do too much good. Yet, always looking for a fight so as to take over more territory from those you think inferior to yourself.
Very good!! You all pass - and this was SUCH an important concept since it describes my department (as well as several of the other departments) and why we don't work well together.
(Not the same Elaine as posted above)
Sadly, I have no idea what this phrase means, but now that I have read the other comments I am more educated!
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