Introduction: shades of contestation and politicisation of CFSP

Contestation and politicisation are two concepts of increasing relevance to European foreign security policy (CFSP) scholars practitioners alike. However, reasonable doubts can be raised as regards this growing literature: first, political conflict has always been part CFSP, national politics have traditionally at the centre research in field. Second, exploring how relate foreign, defence policies is complicated by fact that affairs more broadly do not meet all criteria set literature on politicisation, which usually requires some form mass mobilisation takes place, or least a high degree salience. This article addresses these concerns looking changing CFSP. As introduction special issue, we explore hypothesis contestation now line with broader way being re-structured Europe. If so, over CFSP will easily associated issues an appeal beyond narrow community its observers.