fissipation

Reproduction by fission; fissiparism.

Fissipation, being the simple division of an organised being, requires no organs of reproduction.

The act or process of splitting apart; division into smaller parts.

The re-emergence of empire was thwarted by immense topographical variety, coastal confolutions, and wide-openness to the east, which made Christendom difficult to organize and defend as a whole from Viking, barbarian and Islamic attacks round its perimeter; by natural temperateness, which rendered large-scale disasters needing widespread rescue of populations rare (Jones 1981); and by the very devolved political system represented by feudalism, which encouraged the fissipation of whatever larger units did develop.

Had there been a consolidated nationhood in all African states at this time, this declaration would not have been of such relevance. The danger of fissipation was real and explains why the nationalist elite placed such priority on the project of imagining the nation.