Metropolitan Government in London, Paris and Berlin 1920-2000

The development of metropolitan government in the metropolises London, Paris and London in the period 1920-2000 is the central theme of this paper. A topic of continuous debate was the question: which administrative model would be the most appropriate to address the complex problems affecting large urban areas. After a brief outline of a number of pressing metropolitan administrative issues in general, an evaluation of administrative developments in the three metropolises individually is given. In all three metropolitan cities the double role as capital and largest city in the country has been an important factor. The central governments of all three of the cities have exercised influence on the form of administration of the cities, be it for different reasons and at different times.