Putnam, who has thoroughly researched the social capital of the American society, notes that civil society is interlaced with horizontal networks and associated norms and values, that have far-reaching social consequences for both, the people living in that society and for the society itself, by creating individual and collective benefits. Voluntary associations that Putnam studied have a particularly important role in this process because active involvement of local people leads them to make direct contacts with each other, helps the community achieve its goals, and encourages the acquisition of broad range of skills, including interpersonal trust. In the book, Bowling Alone Putnam argues that social capital has significant political consequences