citéÉtat

City-state, or cité-État (French; sometimes written as citéÉtat), is a sovereign political unit that consists of a single city and the surrounding territory it governs. In a city-state, the urban center is the core of political authority, diplomacy, and defense. The territory is typically small, producing a highly centralized and administratively compact state.

Historically, city-states arose where autonomous urban communities asserted independence from larger rulers. In ancient Greece, the polis combined city and countryside into a political community with its own laws and institutions, such as Athens and Corinth. During the medieval and early modern periods, Italian city-states like Venice, Florence, and Genoa maintained independent governments, fleets, and currencies, competing for trade and influence. The concept has shaped debates on sovereignty and governance across eras.

Today, a few entities are widely described as city-states. Singapore is a contemporary example; Vatican City and Monaco are often cited as city-states due to their compact, urbanized territory and full sovereignty. Some scholars apply the term more loosely to microstates or exceptionally urbanized states, but distinctions remain between city-states and larger nations with urban cores. The designation emphasizes the primacy of urban governance and the geopolitical role of city-centered states.

Common features include centralized administration, diplomacy conducted by a single authority, and an economy oriented toward trade, finance, tourism, and services that fit within limited space. Culture tends to be cosmopolitan, shaped by dense networks of residents, migrants, and international exchange. Challenges include vulnerability to external pressure, dependence on finite resources, and the need to secure stable supply lines and alliances.