In November 2001, 30 academics from research institutes, think tanks, and universities introduced the idea of launching an Asian-based academic organization dedicated to the advancement of political and international studies. It was the general consensus of the meeting that Asian scholars had been marginalized from the decision-making processes of the Western-based associations of a similar nature. Asian schools of thought had been stifled as a consequence of the American hegemony in the social sciences, and that the state of Asian studies in general was underdeveloped. In the light of these concerns, APISA was established and held its founding congress in Singapore in 2003.

Patterned after academic institutions in North America and Western Europe, the organization seeks to promote theoretically informed comparative scholarships, based on the Asian experience in the fields of conflict and peace, democracy and governance, development, and area studies.

APISA's Objectives

• Promotion of research and teaching in all areas of the social sciences, in particular disciplines related to political and international studies
• Dissemination of research findings, institutional skills and syllabi
• Promotion of cooperation and exchanges between individuals and institutions
• Promotion of regional and sub-regional peace through epistemic communities