Editorial: Letter from the Editors

Editorial 8(2) We are pleased to present issue 8 (2). The focus section is edited by Helmut Thome (University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany) and Steven F. Messner (University at Albany, United States), and focuses on methodological constraints, options, and solutions in longitudinal research on criminal violence. We are honored that Helmut Thome, Steven Messner, and the contributors offer their scientific knowledge and evidence in the interests of gaining a deeper understanding of one of the most promising methodological approaches in conflict and violence research, i.e. longitudinal data analyses. Sincere thanks to the editors and authors for opening up the potential of this specific kind of research for advances to better assess and understand criminal violence in a long term perspective. We hope this issue will be discussed and quoted in the interdisciplinary community of researchers. The open section again fulfills its aim to foster contributions on diverse topics in the field of conflict and violence, starting with an analysis of Southeast Asian media reception of the Israeli/Palestine conflict. The second paper shows how social cohesion activities have the potential to change disparaging attitudes in Cyprus. The third and final contribution examines teen dating violence in Switzerland from various angles.