Subversion

Subversion (from Latin subvertere 'overthrow') is a process by which the values and principles of a system in place are contradicted or reversed in an attempt to sabotage the established social order and its structures of power, authority, tradition, hierarchy, and social norms. Foreign subversion refers to "hostile meddling in a rival’s domestic politics, against the wishes of the existing regime, in order to weaken it or change its foreign policy." Foreign subversion tends to be covert rather than overt. Foreign subversion is generally perceived to be a hostile attack. 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. Subversion is also often a goal of comedians, artists and people in those careers. In this case, being subversive can mean questioning, poking fun at, and undermining the established order in general. Subversion is distinct from war on one hand and diplomacy on the other hand. Covert subversion is used as a tool to achieve political goals because it generally carries less risk, cost, and difficulty as opposed to open belligerency or overt subversion. Foreign subversion can take the form of "[attempting] 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 guerrilla warfare.