This presentation explores significant transitions in the construction of professional teaching in Greece during the last three decades and whilst placing particular emphasis in the policies adopted during the last decade, the analysis also attempts to be historically informed in order to contextualise the main categories of change in the politics of teaching. Socio-political context is perceived in both national and global terms and the specific appropriation of global flows, and especially European policies, is of particular interest. The teaching profession is viewed as a mediator between the citizen and the state in a context of a welfare institution such as education. It will be argued that the changes occurring in the organisation, internal hierarchies, status and social definition of the teaching profession in Greece are intrinsically interconnected with wider socio-political and cultural change that transforms dramatically the structures of welfare state institutions and the conceptualisation of 'public goods'. Education policy regarding teachers reflects the shifts in the social meaning embedded to education and professional teaching.