Why are some cities more powerful than others? What makes a capital city different from others in a nation state? In this brilliant survey of urban politics, leading sociologist Goran Therborn looks at what makes a metropolis. Through a historical lens and a global perspective, Therborn questions received assumptions about the source of urban power and how it manifests itself. He looks at the way that architecture and social movements have had their impact on the way cities work. He explores what makes a global city . And argues that, at a time when they seem to be moving apart, there is a strong link between the city and the nation state. With examples from revolutionary Paris to the rise of the post-colonial capitals of the Global South and the mega cities of the twenty first century, Therborn forces us to think about what our urban future might look like.