Special issue of magazine promotes subversive acts (8)
I believe the answer is:
sedition
'subversive acts' is the definition.
'special issue of magazine' is the wordplay.
'special' becomes 's' (common abbreviation as in Special Air Service).
'issue of magazine' becomes 'edition'.
's'+'edition'='SEDITION'
'promotes' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for sedition that I've seen before include "Subversive activity" , "incitement to rebel" , "Action inciting rebellion" , "Criminal behaviour" , "Conduct inciting rebellion" .)