Subversion refers to an attempt to transform the established social order and its structures of power, authority, and hierarchy. Or more specifically, subversion can be described as an attack on the public morale and, “the will to resist intervention are the products of combined political and social or class loyalties which are usually attached to national symbols. Following penetration, and parallel with the forced disintegration of political and social institutions of the state, these loyalties may be detached and transferred to the political or ideological cause of the aggressor.” Subversion is used as a tool to achieve political goals because it generally carries less risk, cost, and difficulty as opposed to open belligerency. Furthermore, it is a relatively cheap form of warfare that does not require large amounts of training. A subversive is something or someone carrying the potential for some degree of subversion. In this context, a "subversive" is sometimes called a "traitor" with respect to (and usually by) the government in-power. Terrorist groups generally do not employ subversion as a tool to achieve their goals. Subversion is a manpower intensive strategy and many groups lack the manpower and political and social connections to carry out subversive activities. However, actions taken by terrorists may have a subversive effect on society. Subversion can imply the use of insidious, dishonest, monetary, or violent methods to bring about such change. This is in contrast to protest, a coup d'état, or working through traditional means (if) available in a political system to bring about change. Furthermore, external subversion is where, “the aggressor state attempts to recruit and assist indigenous political and military actors to overthrow their government by coup d’état.” If subversion fails in its goal of bringing about a coup it is possible that the actors and actions of the subversive group could transition to insurrection, insurgency, and/or guerilla warfare.

Subversion is an attempt to overthrow structures of authority.

Der Begriff der Subversion (v. lat. subversor „der Umstürzer“) kann mehrere Bedeutungen haben.

Le terme subversion a plusieurs acceptions :

• Subversion, processus de renversement des valeurs ou des normes d'un système :
• Subversion, logiciel permettant le téléchargement et la gestion de différentes versions de programmes

Subversion kan syfta på:

• Subversion (versionshanteringssystem), (SVN)
• Subversion (politik) (omstörtande verksamhet)

Subversion (znany również jako SVN) - system kontroli wersji, który powstał w celu zastąpienia CVS. Funkcjonalnie jest z nim zgodny w większości przypadków, z kompatybilności zrezygnowano tylko tam, gdzie było to niezbędne.