Muslim Minorities in Laos: Identity and Integration

Abstract

This article explores the complex processes of social and political identity formation among Muslim minority communities in Laos, a country marked by its ethnocultural diversity and governed under a single-party socialist regime. These communities—including descendants of South Asian and Southwest Chinese immigrants, Cham-Khmer Muslims from Cambodia, as well as indigenous converts from groups such as the Lao Loum, Khmu, and Hmong present a compelling case for understanding minority integration in a politically and religiously restrictive environment. Drawing on more than six years of fieldwork, the author utilizes qualitative data collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and site surveys to examine the lived experiences, challenges, and evolving identities of these under-researched populations. The study was conducted under significant constraints due to limited access to official demographic data, shaped by national security policies and restrictions on the dissemination of religious information. Furthermore, the data collection period overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic, adding considerable obstacles to field research.  The article pursues two primary objectives: (1) to investigate the construction of social identity among Muslim minorities in Laos, and (2) to analyze how their political identities are shaped in relation to the Lao state. It highlights the interplay between internal factors (such as ethnicity, religious practices, political regime, and demographic policies) and external influences (including transnational Islamic discourse, media exposure, and socio-economic conditions) in shaping identity formation. The diversity of ethnic origins is shown to produce varied expressions of Islam, while the concept of the Ummah fosters a shared sense of belonging across different jurisprudential traditions. This work offers a foundational contribution to the limited body of knowledge on Muslim minorities in Laos and aims to support future academic inquiry into the religious, political, and social dynamics of ethnic and religious minorities in Southeast Asia.