Geoffrey Weller's first article in The Journal of Conflict Studies sadly is also his last. Geoff died of cancer last summer, shortly before his manuscript was accepted for publication. Stuart Farson, a member of our Editorial Board and a friend of Geoff's, kindly agreed to edit the manuscript for publication. I am also grateful to Ken Robertson, another Board member and colleague of Geoff's, for his comments on the manuscript. Together, they have ensured that this is an article worthy of Geoff's name.
But, this is not Geoff's first contribution to the Journal. Although he was never a member of the Editorial Board - an oversight on our part - he worked actively on the Journal's behalf. He served as a book reviewer for us, and equally important, as a referee for manuscripts. Geoff never begrudged his time, and his comments were always thorough, fair, scholarly and eminently sound. Many of our authors benefited from his generous and wise counsel.
Geoff's academic career had taken him from the faculty of Bishop's University, through Lakehead University, to the Presidency of the new University of Northern British Columbia. In the latter position he was given an opportunity rare among our contemporaries: to build a new university, from the ground up. That it is a vibrant academic institution today is a living testament to Geoff's administrative talents and leadership.
It also says a great deal about his willingness 'to boldly go' where none had gone before. Geoff was one of the Canadian pioneers in the field of intelligence studies. He was 'present at the creation' of the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies (CASIS), a long-time member of its executive and served a term as its president. His passionate commitment to the fundamental principle of accountability in democratic political systems shines through in all of his work on intelligence and security. Likewise, he firmly believed that we have much to learn from studying the experiences of other governments, particularly those of the Westminster model. Both of these themes are embodied in his article in this issue.
Geoff's departure much too early leaves a gap, not only in scholarship, but in the civility he brought to scholarly conferences and discourse: good company, wit and astute common sense. For those of us who pursue intelligence and security studies to fill in "The Missing Dimension" of politics and history, our formation is diminished. There is a "Missing Man."
David Charters
Executive Editor