In 1907 a group of young scientists who had lived and studied in Germany founded the Society of Sociologists. Its leaders were Alexandros Papanastasiou, Konstantinos Triantafyllopoulos, Alexandros Mylonas and Panayotis Aravantinos.

Their background was Marxism and Socialism - liberal views and modernizing tendencies, with education as the common denominator. Their views were similar to those of European Socialist reformers. The Sociologists formed the left wing of the Liberals, while in 1910 they founded a party of their own.

Alexandros Papanastasiou, one of the most distinguished Greek politicians, introduced during this and the following, inter-war period, views that aspired to a programme of state intervention on Socialist lines. He was influenced by the Union of Social Policy in Germany, and recognized the necessity for a social policy that would settle the problems caused by the capitalist system. Despite their progressiveness these views reflect an aristocratic conception of politics, based on an enlightnened leadership, convinced that its politico-social mission was beyond personal interests and class claims. At the same time, the ideas and models of the Fabian Society of England led him to align with the Liberals but also to occasionally cooperate with representatives of the labour movement of diverse political background.