National Interests in Different Analytical Units In the previous section, we presented the national interests as they are de­picted in the strategic documents of the Republic of Serbia. However, na­tional interests can also be presented as an analytical concept or tool, which essentially tests their cognitive potential. Some theorists have proposed a matrix or classification method for national interests(Joseph Frankel, Don ­ald E. Nuechterlein), which others(domestic researchers) have attempted to apply in practice(Dimitrijević, Lipovac, Krstić, Jović). Since they decided to analyse the national interests of the Republic of Ser­bia, a small country, Ivan Dimitrijević and Milan Lipovac chose the Non-Lin ­ear Matrix, which allows for the ranking of national interests, i.e., assessing the importance that decision-makers and security policy creators attach to specific interests by categorizing them as: existential(critical), vital(dan­gerous), important(serious), and marginal(disturbing)(Dimitrijević&Lipov ­ac, 2017:91). As authors Dimitrijević and Lipovac note, there are several reasons support ­ing the decision to use the Prime Minister’s exposé as content for analysing national interests: 1) exposés provide more material for analysis, 2) they cover a broader time frame, 3) they include more political actors, i.e., deci­sion-makers who operationalize the policy/policies of national security, and may also contain comments on policies of previous governments, 4) they are more sensitive to political changes and the balance of power within the country than strategic documents, and 5) they offer insight into specific re­gional and global issues at a given time(Dimitrijević&Lipovac, 2017:78). In their work, they analysed the exposés of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia(2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). The most important national interest of the Republic of Serbia since 2007, at least according to the analysis of the Prime Minister’s exposé, is related to the physical survival of the state, namely the protection of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia. Almost all prime ministers since 2007 have linked the most significant(national) interest to Kosovo and Metohija and, depending on specific circumstances, personal affinities, and assess­ments of what is feasible under current conditions, have formulated certain policies or measures to achieve that national interest. The published ex­posés also demonstrate a consensus on the importance of fighting organ­ised crime and corruption as one of the main national priorities. In economic areas, Serbia strives to join the EU and improve its economy, which consti­90 NATIONAL SECURITY CULTURES- A VIEW FROM THE BALKANS