Alliance, having deposed leader in Berlin, every so often shows genius (10)

I believe the answer is:

brilliance

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'genius' is the definition.
(I know that genius can be written as brilliance)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for brilliance that I've seen before include "Exceptional cleverness" , "Genius; brightness" , "Sparkling aptitude" , "Brightness, vividness" , "Brightness; cleverness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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