Country-lover’s predicament at first, caught up in civil unrest (7)
I believe the answer is:
patriot
'country-lover's' is the definition.
(someone who loves their country)
'predicament at first caught up in civil unrest' is the wordplay.
'at first' suggests taking the first letters.
'caught up in' becomes 'at' (being at something is being part of it).
'civil unrest' becomes 'riot' (rioting is a type of civil unrest).
The initial letter of 'predicament' is 'p'.
'p'+'at'+'riot'='PATRIOT'
(Other definitions for patriot that I've seen before include "Country supporter" , "One with a strong love of country" , "Loyalist" , "Defender of country" , "Tell perhaps" .)