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Religion and the ASEAN identity

Word count (including in-text citation) :472

Religion plays a central role in the determination, allocation, interpretation, and


normalization of values in a society. Religion shapes how an individual views the world
and consequently, an individuals’ attitude and behaviour. As it forms individual norms, it
consequently determines the societal norms. (Shuriye 2011)  This normalized behaviour
and value system unites people of the same belief under a common identity. (Miller
2009)

Most of the ASEAN member countries, excluding Singapore, are almost religious
monoliths, with a number of minorities practicing other religions than the dominant one.
Religious identity thus often becomes inseparable to one’s ethnic identity. In the
Philippines, fiesta and the celebration of Christmas, while being religious rituals in
nature, are engraved in the Filipino identity.

Religion also affects the state policies, foreign affairs and decision-making process in
many nations in the world today. In the Muslim world for instance, religion is seen as the
basis of legitimacy for state policies, its international dealings and its relation with other
states. (Shuriye 2011).  Some pre-dominantly Islamic States implements the Sharīʿah
law. Malaysia for instance, observes a dual track legal system comprising of civil courts
and Sharīʿah Courts, with the latter having jurisdiction over the Muslim populations and
Islamic Affairs. (Phuoc 2017) In the Philippines, centuries after the Spanish colonial law,
the Catholic Canon Law continue to dominate the Philippine family, civil, and penal law.
Most if not all of these laws place serious limitations on the realisation of women’s
sexual and reproductive rights. (Ruiz Austria 2004)

While the member states experiences certain degree of religious homogeneity, ASEAN
in general is religiously pluralistic, the regional bloc has a diverse set of religions being
practiced in the area- Islam, Hindu-Buddhism, Christianity among others. (Mahiwo
2013).  This is one of the reasons that ASEAN faces issues on the “deficiency of
common cultural and lingual characteristics”.  Conflicts related to religious elements, is
one of the greatest hurdles to economic and societal growth causing a myriad of
problems like poverty, diseases, homelessness, unemployment. (Bach & Nguyen 2017)
These conflicts, while religious in nature, manifest from a failure in social policies of
many countries. Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are deprived of civil rights, they weren’t
recognized as citizens. (Wekke et al 2017)  

The rise of the “Islamic State” or “Daesh” also poses an imminent threat to Southeast
Asia. In the Philippines, Violent Extremist Groups’ Presence in Mindanao has been
established, with the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the Maute Group pledging their allegiance
to the Islamic State. (IAG 2017) In Myanmar, and Thailand are mirroring situations of
conflict between Buddhist-state and the Muslim population. 
Religion shapes the National Identity of the AMS, deeply rooted in the culture and
manifests in state policies. It also facilitates conflict, discrimination and thus becomes a
hurdle that ASEAN needs to address in order to show the integrated community that
ASEAN aspires for.

Citations: 

Bach T., Nguyen T. (2007), “The issue of religion and social security in ASEAN”,
Religious Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 75-81

Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) (2017) "Research on Youth Vulnerability
to Violent Extremism in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao" Retrieved
from http://iag.org.ph/images/pdf/Research_on_Youth_Vulnerability_to_VE_in_the_AR
MM.pdf

Mahiwo, Sylvano D. (2013). Module 4: Religions and Philosophy in ASEAN Society.


University of the Philippines (UP) Open University, Philippines.

Miller, L., & Anderson, G. (2009). RELIGION'S ROLE IN CREATING NATIONAL UNITY
[with COMMENT and REJOINDER]. International Journal on World Peace, 26(1), 91-
138. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20752875 pp. 91

Phuoc, J. (2017). Sharīʿah Law in South East Asian (ASEAN) Region: Business and
Religion – An Exploratory Introduction - GlobaLex. Retrieved 8 October 2019,
from https://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/Shariah_Law_Asean_Region.html

Ruiz Austria, C. (2004). The Church, the State and Women's Bodies in the Context of
Religious Fundamentalism in the Philippines. Reproductive Health Matters, 12(24), 96-
103. doi: 10.1016/s0968-8080(04)24152-0

Shuriye, Abdi. (2011). The Failed Assumptions of Some Social Scientists on the Role of
Religion in International Relations. International Journal of Humanities and Social
Science Vol.1. No. 3, March 2011, Retrieved
from http://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol._1_No._3;_March_2011/3.pdf pp.11-12

Wekke, I., Hasbi, H., Mawardin, M., Ladiqi, S., & Salleh, M. (2017). Muslim Minority in
Myanmar: A Case Study of Myanmar Government and Rohingya Muslims. Walisongo:
Jurnal Penelitian Sosial Keagamaan, 25(2), 303. doi: 10.21580/ws.25.2.2317

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