The Changes in Germany's Foreign Policy from the Unification to the Present

Foreign policy of Germany has gained due to its special development in the post-war period some unique traits -- strong multilateral and westward orientation and civilian character. German unification became a turning point in this respect. The country was confronted with the necessity to find its new place within the changing international system. This paper focuses on the subsequent changes of foreign policy. Its purpose is to evaluate the change or continuity of these unique traits on one side and to describe Germany's new role in the international relations on the other. The initial step is to picture the function of bodies involved in shaping the foreign policy - government, parliament, individual federal countries and president. Further on the paper outlines the main events of German unification, restoring its full international subjectivity. The core descriptive part is divided in three main segments in terms of the personality leading the government, the chancellor. It first gives an account of foreign policy of the "Kohl era", continues with Schröder government and closes with foreign policy of Angela Merkel. With the view of the complexity of such a task the paper focuses on selected policy areas only -- European integration, transatlantic cooperation and partnership with Russia being among them