The critical implementations of Arrow's general possibility theorem for the theory of liberal democracy

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to clarify the sphere and critical implications of Arrow's general possibility theorem with regard to liberal democracy, with reference to the latest studies of social choice theory.
  The construction and thesis of this paper is as follow. First, we introduce Arrow's theorem and argue that this theorem can be interpreted to prove the impossibility of democratic collective choice. Second, after reviewing past research in political science and social choice theory, we conclude that Arrow's theorem has little in the way of critical implications with regard to the realizability of liberal democracy. Third, we clarify that Arrow's theorem can be interpreted to prove not only the impossibility of collective choice, but also the impossibility of moral rules which are the base of the society. Finally, we conclude that Arrow's theorem has some critical implications with regard to the sustainability of liberal democratic society.