ABSTRACT
In almost every society there is some kind of local authority such as municipalities, town districts or rural districts. The most important role for these politically governed organizations is to organize public services. Local authorities appear to reflect a geographical level far removed from nations and supranational systems; it is the most provincial type of government. But this does not mean that it is isolated from the outside world. The evolution of local authorities in Europe was a part of an international movement and is an illustration of how local authorities reflect changes in the outside world.
