Religious-Based Organizations in Southeast Asia: Non-State Actors, Peacebuilding, and Regional Governance Networks

Abstract

Religious-Based Organizations have become increasingly visible in Southeast Asia as societies confront conflict, humanitarian pressure, and the limits of state-centered peacebuilding. In a region marked by religious diversity and uneven governance capacity, these organizations often occupy trusted positions within local communities and transnational moral networks. This article examines how Religious-Based Organizations operate as non-state actors in peacebuilding and regional governance in Southeast Asia. It adopts a qualitative and theory-driven approach informed by Constructivism, Liberalism, and the concept of sacred capital. The analysis draws on comparative regional literature, policy-related documents, organizational materials, and secondary sources on religion, civil society, governance, and peace processes in Southeast Asia. Attention is directed to the relationship between moral authority, community legitimacy, transnational engagement, and institutional participation in peace-oriented initiatives. A comparative reading is used to identify recurring patterns as well as context-specific forms of faith-based action across the region. Religious-Based Organizations emerge as influential actors because they combine peacebuilding capacity with moral legitimacy that often exceeds the reach of formal institutions. Their role indicates that regional governance in Southeast Asia increasingly depends on non-state religious actors operating across local, national, and transnational arenas. The article contributes to the field by offering a regionally grounded framework for understanding how religion, non-state agency, and governance interact in Southeast Asian peacebuilding.