Appointment to office coming before unrest? (10)
I believe the answer is:
preferment
'appointment to office' is the definition.
(preferment means promotion to an office)
'coming before unrest?' is the wordplay.
'coming before' becomes 'pre' (I've seen this in another clue).
'unrest?' becomes 'ferment' ('ferment' can be a synonym of 'unrest').
'pre'+'ferment'='PREFERMENT'
(Other definitions for preferment that I've seen before include "step ahead?" , "Promotion to higher office" .)