Germany's foreign policy: What lessons can be learned from the Schröder years?

The German general election on September 18th 2005 is of massive interest to people all over the world. Because Germany is a large and influential EU member, its foreign policy matters not only to other European countries, but also those further afield, such as the Americans, the Russians and the Chinese. If the opinion polls are correct, and the German people elect a new government, the country's foreign policy will change. The international record of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's SPD-Green coalition has been very mixed.