--------------------------------------------
On Fri, 5/2/14, Bruce Johnson <xxxxxx@Pharmacy.Arizona.EDU> wrote:

 Subject: Re: [TML] Rules for fleshing out balkanized worlds?
 To: "xxxxxx@simplelists.com" <xxxxxx@simplelists.com>
 Date: Friday, May 2, 2014, 11:37 AM

[BIG SNIP]

 Finally, given human nature, it could well be
 that the Gov/Law/TL portion of the UWP of *any* world above,
 say, a few million inhabitant represents merely the
 predominant power on the planet and/or where the Imperial
 starport resides, and they’re ALL ‘Balkanized’ on a
 closer examination.

 The
 scale at which the OTU is described is rather broad.

 --
 Bruce
 Johnson
 -------------------------------------------------------------------

I recall reading one of Asimov's 'later' books about his Galactic Empire (it was the one where he describes the capital, Trantor.

It was set in the time where Hari Seldon first came to Trantor & the planet seemed to me to be highly 'balkanized'.

Since then I've always leaned towards the idea that hi-pop worlds in the TU were effectively 'balkanized' w/ various federative, autonomous, etc, regions, similar to the way a lot of nations here on earth have 'reservations', 'preserves' or other areas where one could easily feel as if he were in a different country altogether.
--------------------------------