User blog comment:Fegaxeyl/French Resistance, anyone?/@comment-257949-20101230101026

So that the Southern Bloc's expansion makes more sense, I'll explain part of its foreign policy first. Initially it would act like Egypt, yo-yoing between East and West, never enough to lose the other side's trust or alienate them - basically, they are neutral. Later it would offer a 'third option' for nations: rather than joining the US-led capitalist West or the USSR-led communist East, a nation could opt for a bit of both, with the wealth of capitalism combined with the social support of communism in a market socialist state by joining the Southern Bloc. Though they would still be neutral, the Bloc would try and usher disgruntled communist nations into its fray.

Initially, the Southern Bloc would simply be an alliance between Yugoslavia and either a communist Vichy France or, simply, a communist France (depending on the PoD). Albania could possibly join this alliance at an early stage. It's first major expansion would be Hungary in 1956; the OTL Hungarian Uprising was crushed because it wasn't supported by the West. In ATL not only would it be offered the 'third option' of becoming a neutral, market socialist state once the Southern Bloc becomes involved (Nagy pressed for capitalist elements and Austria-like neutrality), because of the Southern Bloc's ability to stir up support from both sides the USSR may be wary of messing with them for fear of igniting Western intervention.

A similar event would occur in 1968, with the Prague Spring. Although in OTL Dubcek assured fellow Warsaw Pact members that Czechoslovakia would remain a part of the military alliance, it is much more likely that in ATL he would be ushered into the fold of the Southern Bloc, which again would make Brezhnev wary of inciting Western intervention.

As we know, the crushing of the Prague Spring resulted in massive changes in the communist world - Romania and Albania switched allegiances to China, and Eurocommunism was born. In TTL it is possible that Romania would join the Southern Bloc (though not certain). Eurocommunism, on the other hand, would likely have stronger support, leading to a communist Italy via revolution of election. With Italy's involvement the Southern Bloc would suddenly become much stronger: goods and people could move unimpeded from France, across the Alps, and into Yugoslavia and Hungary. Trade in the Mediterranean and Adriatic would become easier and more profitable. The Southern Bloc would probably enter a period of rapid economic growth.

At this point - the 70s there would be five or six nations involved: France, Italy, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and possibly Albania. Depending on what happens next the Bloc could grow significantly: it could support communist uprisings in Spain in the late 70s and early 80s; it could find new allies/members in the form of Bulgaria and Romania (possibly Moldova and Ukraine) in the early 1990s; it could even (though this is subject to debate) expand to include Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Greece and Turkey.

At this point, though, there would be a significant degree of cultural difference. Though this could easily be overcome if the Southern Bloc kept to its Cold War size, if it expands to include all nations suggested it could lead to the suggested divide between France and Yugoslavia.

I think I'll revisit foreign policy again. The Southern Bloc would probably endorse most socialist and labour parties around the world (1970-80s Britain, prepare for even more interesting events!). I've no idea what their policy would be towards revolutions in the Third World: would they be picky over the revolutionaries they support? Would they create their own? I'm going to have to beg for help here, as I know nothing about African politics beyond Egypt.