Balkanization can occur when countries or regions are divided along ethnic/racial, economic, political, social, cultural, and/or religious lines. In the United States, there are continuing, and or, growing divisions along such lines, resulting in distinctive groups of peoples who may not have a sufficient stake in the mainstream society to warrant support for the greater society. Exclusion or partial exclusion of "distinctive" groups from mainstream society may be by choice or circumstance, wanted or unwanted.

Recent events indicate that balkanization is possible in the United States, especially in times of national crisis such as natural disasters, epidemics, economic collapse, and/or gasoline shortages to name a few. The chaotic situation that occurred in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina indicates that groups of people will take matters into their own hands in the absence of governmental authority.

In America, harbingers of balkanization include:

A growing division between the rich and poor.
Wealthy whites living in gated communities.
Large pockets of economically poor African Americans in many cities and towns across America. Some blame the "greater society" for their conditions resulting in an "us versus them" mentality. Manifestations of this mentality include welfare dependency, riots, looting and political demonstrations, as America has witnessed over the last few decades. Extreme examples include statements such as "America got what it deserved on 9/11" as stated by some in this group.
Immigrants and illegal immigrants from many foreign nations who largely live apart from mainstream America due to racial, economic, language, cultural and other barriers. Large numbers of illegal immigrants from Mexico, for example, are creating "a nation within a nation" in the United States. Many still owe their true allegiance to their native country. Recent immigrants from Arab countries are another example. Many strive to maintain their cultural and national identities by shunning American practices. Their non-Christian religion in a majority Christian nation contributes to their exclusion. Arab extremists in the U.S. have participated in terrorists attacks on U.S. soil, including the 9/11 attacks and possibly the postal anthrax attacks.
Many Native Americans seek to maintain their sovereignty on Indian reservations that operate somewhat independently of United States laws and regulations.