Weber and the European City in the 21st century: Still reality or just a concept?

Max Weber has left a 100-page long text that played a main role in his argumentation on the particular development of Europe in contrast to especially Asia. Main difference, according to Weber, is the development of a 'local society' where freedom and the association of free citizens laid the ground for a democratic society. In the reception of this text, a critical view on main assumptions on the 'European city' has been dominant. In particular, the notions of conflict and inequality have not been integrat- ed into his argumentation. Nevertheless, some sociologists even today, see Weber and his text as a kind of starting point to understand the social and political construction of urban societies in Europe. Firstly, a critical introduction into the core ideas of Weber on the city will be presented. Subsequently, the article discusses whether the 'Europe- an city' can still be regarded as a meaningful term to explain the process of urban re- structuring taking place today. Although not rejecting the Weberian notion of the city, it will be highlighted that his understanding of 'urban society' leaves out recent processes of the post-Fordist restructuring of space.