Compelling influence of cunning rep's ruse (8)
I believe the answer is:
pressure
'compelling influence' is the definition.
'pressure' can be an answer for 'influence' (pressure is a kind of influence). I am not certain of the 'compelling' bit.
'cunning rep's ruse' is the wordplay.
'cunning' is an anagram indicator.
'reps'+'ruse'='repsruse'
'repsruse' with letters rearranged gives 'PRESSURE'.
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pressure that I've seen before include "Force applied to a surface" , "tension" , "Stressful urgency" , "A force that compels" , "Coercion, intimidation" .)