Religious Soft Power and State Diplomacy in Southeast Asia: Sacred Capital and Strategic Legitimacy

Abstract

Religion has re-emerged as an important dimension of diplomacy as states increasingly mobilize moral narratives, sacred symbols, and religious institutions in international engagement. In Southeast Asia, this development is especially significant because religion remains deeply embedded in public legitimacy, political identity, and regional image formation. This article examines how religious soft power operates as a diplomatic resource in Southeast Asia and how sacred capital is translated into state influence. It adopts a qualitative and theory-driven approach informed by constructivism, soft power theory, and the concept of sacred capital. The analysis draws on comparative regional literature, official speeches, policy-related materials, and secondary sources on religion, diplomacy, and state identity. Attention is directed to the relationship between moral legitimacy, institutional credibility, domestic political coherence, and external diplomatic projection. A comparative reading is used to identify recurring patterns as well as variation across different national settings. Religious soft power emerges as effective when diplomatic narratives of moderation, harmony, or civilizational value are supported by credible institutions and coherent domestic practice. Religious diplomacy therefore functions as both an opportunity and a constraint, since external attraction depends on internal legitimacy. The article contributes to the field by offering a regionally grounded framework for understanding how religion, soft power, and state diplomacy intersect in Southeast Asia.