  The renormalization group method enables one to improve the properties of the
QCD perturbative power series in the ultraviolet region. However, it ultimately
leads to the unphysical singularities of observables in the infrared domain.
The Analytic Perturbation Theory constitutes the next step of the improvement
of perturbative expansions. Specifically, it involves additional analyticity
requirement which is based on the causality principle and implemented in the
K\"allen--Lehmann and Jost--Lehmann representations. Eventually, this approach
eliminates spurious singularities of the perturbative power series and enhances
the stability of the latter with respect to both higher loop corrections and
the choice of the renormalization scheme. The paper contains an overview of the
basic stages of the development of the Analytic Perturbation Theory in QCD,
including its recent applications to the description of hadronic processes.
