Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has revealed that Harvard professor Robert Putnam, who is due to address the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party on Monday, has been a major influence in the development of elements of Government social policy over the past decade.
Prof Putnam, whom Mr Ahern described as "an extraordinary genius", gained prominence following the publication of his book Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival of American Community, which documented social alienation in the US.
In an interview with The Irish Times, Mr Ahern said he had regular contact with the professor, who has supplied him with research before the publication of his books.
"He is a fascinating guy. He was a big adviser of Clinton, who has huge, huge regard for him. He continued on that road with Bush and Blair as well. I'm glad to say we were in talking to him before either of them, since the early 1990s," Mr Ahern said.
"I linked into him when he was doing research for Bowling Alone. I read that book a few times, and it's a great insight into that area. He continued doing that research and has done great books since, such as Better Together: Restoring the American Community. Now he's studying the challenges of community in an increasingly diverse society.
"His research is hugely relevant to what's going on here. People say the US is a different place, but that isn't the issue. It's very relevant. That's why we have him here. It's that kind of connectedness we need in our community in the modern age."
Prof Putnam argued that civil society in the US was breaking down as Americans became more disconnected from their families, neighbours, communities and the country itself. He has put forward ways of increasing social activism and promoting active citizenship as a way of reversing these trends.
Mr Ahern said that, while we faced similar challenges, he was optimistic over the future of society in Ireland given the widespread contribution of voluntary organisations such as the GAA and community groups.