http://revista.ieee.es/index.php/ieee 294 Journal of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies Núm. 8 / 2016 INTRODUCTION Legislation on National Security, both Spanish and foreign, makes frequent re-ferences to deterrence. However, it is rarely accompanied by a coherent ar-ticulation of the concept, much less, specific measures on how to achieve it. Nevertheless, the social sciences have had a predilection for the study deterrence, and it has probably been the focus of one of the more elaborate attempts at rigorous theory in the social sciences1. As a result of the aforementioned studies, it can be concluded that deterrence is a process characterised by a series of rules and distinctive features. Within the general concept of deterrence, there are different models depending on their internal ope-ration mechanism and the means by which they are to be implemented. However, the «classical theory» of deterrence was born and developed primarily within the fra-mework of nuclear deterrence and the rivalry between the two superpowers of the Cold War. Therefore, studies on deterrence have generally focused on the deterrence that can be achieved with nuclear weapons. Indeed, it is for this very reason that con-ventional deterrence has been afforded less attention, and has generally been treated as a complement to nuclear deterrence. This is particularly true in the case of conventio-nal deterrence that is within the reach of the major powers. This article aims to present some of the ideas of the classical deterrence theory, but applied in such a way that it is achievable using conventional means, given that this is the one best suited to the situation in Spain and Europe. DEFINITION There is no single definition of deterrence, but all the definitions that exist share common elements. The first is that the goal of deterrence is to «avoid actions»: it is action aimed at maintaining the status quo, not changing it2. An intuitive definition of deterrence would be: «The prevention from action by fear of the consequences. Deterrence is a state of mind brought about by the existence of a credible threat of unacceptable counteraction.»3 1 MORGAN, Patrick M. Deterrence, A Conceptual Analysis, Beverly Hills: Sage Publishers 2nd ed., 1983, p. 27. 2 GOLDSTEIN, Avery. Deterrence and Security in the 21st Century, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2000, pp. 26 and 27. 3 Joint Publication 1-02 Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, U.S. Department of Defense, 2008, at http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/.
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