Europeans, as shown below, are as divided as can be (5,7)

'as divided as can be' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'europeans as shown below' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'europeans' could be 'poles' (Pole is an example) and 'poles' is located in the answer.
'as' is present in the answer.
'below' could be 'under' (synonyms) and 'under' is found within the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'are' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?