The ASPR was founded in September 1982 as an independent, non-profit and non-partisan organisation. The ASPR aims to contribute to the promotion of peace and peaceful conflict resolution and to the dissemination of practical ideas for peace, including its developmental and environmental aspects.

The ASPR conducts and evaluates research in line with its objectives, engages in training and education, and conducts scientific courses. It also publishes several periodicals (Dialog, Friedensforum, Friedensbericht) dealing with peace issues.

Several major conferences are organised each year, including a summer academyand an annual international meeting of peace researchers on "The State of Peace". ASPR was the founder of the European University Center for Peace Studies (EPU), which has been renamed as European Peace University (EPU) - Private University.