History in Focus

Houses of Parliament, London, painted by Claude Monet in c.1904

Metropolitan comparisons: London as a city-state

Derek Keene, Centre for Metropolitan History

Abstract:

This article, first published in Historical Research (1) explores ideas associated with the term 'metropolis', especially when used concerning London, and then takes the notion of the city-state as a heuristic device to identify recurrent and fundamental characteristics of this particular metropolis. The comparisons are between successive phases in London's history, including the present; between London and other metropolises; and between London and that elusive ideal type, the 'city-state'.

Full text of Derek Keene's article (pdf file, 147KB).

Notes

1. D. Keene, 'Metropolitan comparisons: London as a city-state', Historical Research 76 (2004), 459-80.Back to (1)

Created February 2008 by the Institute of Historical Research.
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