In a moment of resurgent nationalisms, how can we question the naturalness of borders? My research addresses this question in the Central Mediterranean corridor between Italy and Tunisia, site of one of the most significant mass migrations in recent history. Drawing on archival and ethnographic research, I study migration, boundary drawing and debates about coexistence between Italians and Tunisians in contemporary Sicily and in colonial Tunisia. The research shows that throughout the last century of Mediterranean migration, liberal celebrations of cross-Mediterranean coexistence reinforced inequalities between Sicilians and Tunisians. Thus, I argue that liberal multiculturalism is insufficient to transform uneven power relations created by borders. Instead, recognizing exclusion and inequality reproduced through historic and contemporary multicultural projects allows us to develop cross border solidarity initiatives based on anti-racist practice and redistributive justice.

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I am currently writing a book based on this research entitled Unmaking the Mediterranean Border. Race, Space and Coloniality at Europe's Southern Periphery. I am also expanding this work comparatively to the US southern border.