Spring in France -- nation rioting, university seized (8)
I believe the answer is:
fountain
'spring' is the definition.
('fountain' can be a synonym of 'spring')
'france nation rioting university seized' is the wordplay.
'france' becomes 'f'.
'rioting' indicates an anagram.
'university' becomes 'u'.
'seized' is an insertion indicator.
'f'+'nation'='fnation'
'fnation' is an anagram of 'fontain'.
'fontain' going around 'u' is 'FOUNTAIN'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for fountain that I've seen before include "Artificial jet of water" , "Ornamental jet of water, usually in public place" , "Ornamental water-jet" , "Man-made jet of water" , "gusher" .)