Samantha Power’s much-lauded 2008 book “Chasing the Flame” told the story of Sérgio Vieira de Mello: a charismatic Brazilian who rose the ranks of the UN to become its most revered diplomat and ultimate “go to guy”. Tragically whilst working as Kofi Annan’s Special Representative in Iraq in 2003, de Mello was killed by a suicide bomb attack. Power’s book, now made into a documentary by HBO, is an engrossing read and is as much a biography of the UN and its failings as it is of de Mello.

The book begins with Mello’s early life, from his time studying Marxist philosophy in the Sorbonne in 1968 (where he was received a permanent scar while protesting against the De Gaulle government) through to his early days at the UN. Although hired for his linguistic skills, his veracity and intelligence soon led to a permanent place in the office of the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees.

The book then charts, in impressive depth, the missions undertaken by de Mello in places such as Lebanon, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Cambodia, Rwanda and East Timor. It provides fascinating evidence of how De Mello and his loyal team regularly flaunted the UN’s rules to repatriate refuges and cut deals with insurgents. However ultimately de Mello’s biggest realization, and the crux of the book is that his utopian view of the UN - that of an independent organization committed to its defending its beliefs - was largely misplaced. In reality the UN serves at the behest of its paymasters - the member states - and is easily ignored, which De Mello saw first hand in the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982.

Labeled a mixture of “James Bond and Bobby Kennedy” by acquaintances, de Mello comes across as charming action junkie who is more comfortable talking to violent revolutionaries in the jungle than making small talk at diplomatic functions. A vastly intelligent workaholic (he completed a PHD in philosophy in his spare time) he genuinely bled “blue and white”, considering himself a UN man first and a Brazilian second. For this reason he was shocked when his Brazilian nationality ruled him out of a potential promotion. His unique ability to gain the trust (and often genuine admiration and affection) of political leaders, rebel insurgents and internal UN staff, allied to his ability to “get things done” allowed him to overcome the UN’s inherent flaws and make real gains in places like East Timor.

The book is by no means a hagiography and Power is critical of De Mello’s earlier non-judgmental approach (mirroring that of the UN) and his dangerously cordial relationships with figures such as Slobodan Milosevic (which earned him the nickname Serbio). In addition, de Mello’s constant fear of being disliked hampered his ability to place logic before emotion on many an occasion. In his private life, blessed with movie star looks and a jet set lifestyle de Mello was an avid skirt chaser (albeit one who later reformed) and an absent father to his two sons.

It is an open secret that De Mello was hotly tipped to succeed Kofi Annan in the UN Secretary General post. However many analysts say that in reality his chances were limited. The US, stung by Annan’s gentle criticism over Iraq wanted a safe (read dull) candidate that would cause minimum fuss. In addition, several Asian countries insisted it was their continent’s turn to provide a candidate. De Mello met neither requirement. Current incumbent Ban Ki-moon met both. Despite widespread criticism over his role as the world’s “invisible man” he is tipped to win a second term. The contrast with De Mello could not be more striking.

The book’s most relentlessly depressing image is thus that of the UN, an organization routinely criticized for its inaction but one that is ultimately crippled by the economic and political limitations placed on it by its member states. It is an image that will ring true for observers of the EU and in particular observers of the EU’s foreign policy and nascent peace keeping missions. Like Ban Ki-moon, Catherine Ashton was hired for political reasons. While De Mello was horrified that his nationality could stand in the way of him getting a UN post, Ashton is no doubt aware that her’s was the key factor in her appointment.

While the EU’s political posts remain dominated by national politicking it would be nice to think that the newly formed European External Action Service will have room for young “Sergios” across Europe, who bleed “blue and yellow” to rise to the top and be able to argue for the EU’s place in the world with a “de Mello-esqe” conviction.

It would be nice to think that, but perhaps naive as well.