The Role of Sufism in Cultural Integration in Asia

This paper seeks to answer the following question: What is the role of Sufism in cultural integration in Asia. It is hypothesized that Sufism plays an important role to achieve cultural integration in Asia and this capacity could be used in cultural diplomacy to promote integration between the different nations and counteract extremism. The theoretical framework of this research is based on regionalism of constructivism theory. In order to the concepts of the regional integration, Sufism and its historic background in Asia, the researcher determined that Sufism has spread throughout Asia, especially in Islamic world. Due to Sufism affiliation with other religious doctrine such as Buddhism, Brahmanism, and the element of affection to Ahlul-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad as a factor of the unity between Shia and Sunni, Sufism has a great potential for integration through cultural diplomacy. In order to achieve this aim, the common religious doctrine of Sufism in the Islamic World and Asia has to be introduced and emphasized through cultural diplomacy to provide opportunities for cultural integration and counteracting extremism and violence in Asia.