Tag: Iraq

Fragile Borders and Where to Draw Them: How British Mapmakers Immortalised Conflict in the Middle East

Across the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, the borders that define modern states and the conflicts that dictate modern headlines trace back to decisions made by British officials who were, at best, in a hurry, and at worst, deliberately designing systems of division that would ensure no territory could ever mount a unified resistance. To understand why so many of the world’s most catastrophic conflicts feel permanent, we must follow the ink lines back to the men who drew them.
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A Very Short History of Balkanisation – and What It Means for Iran

The early months of 2026 have seen renewed discussion of multipolarity, nationalism and the risk of wider conflict.
Another term associated with 20th century politics has re-entered online political discourse:
Balkanisation.
The term is often used to describe fears of an ethnically or culturally diverse state fragmenting into smaller, weaker, political units. Both the Ottoman Empire and Yugoslavia ‘Balkanised’ in the 20th century, and now Iran faces the same threat today.
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