European Cities between Continuity and Change

This chapter aims to describe the commonalities and distinctive characteristics of European cities. It provides a brief history of European cities, showing the importance of disentangling the complex historical layering of urban Europe and the way it has contributed to the structure of contemporary European cities. The chapter addresses the relationship between cities and the state as a key constituent analytical element of the model and, at the same time, a fundamental empirical factor that structures the degrees of freedom that cities have, both in terms of resources, regulatory capacity, and political power. It analyses the challenges that European cities are currently facing, highlighting the ways in which they are addressed by the different European urban governance regimes. The rise of social and spatial inequalities in European cities has been reinforced by recent population changes, led by low-birth rates, changing household types, and international migration.