In Clarke’s essay The Medieval City State, she argues that the natural governmental division is between central and localised governments. In this study, she focuses on the idea of the city state and local power instead of absolutism in the Middle Ages. Originally published in 1926, this study looks at problems that can arise with local power and whether countries such as Italy, Germany and Switzerland benefited or were harmed by their government type. This title will be of interest to students of history.