Naor Ben-Yehoyada

Ben-Yehoyada is studying thehistorical anthropology of the relationship between Sicilyand Tunisia, with an emphasis on the rise of maritimecross-border connections since the 1950s. His researchfocuses on Mazara del Vallo, Italy's largest fishing townin recent decades that, with Italy's growing deploymentof mechanized fishing vessels in the Channel of Sicily,grew to be one of Italy's most dynamic and turbulentpoints of contact with the Maghreb countries and thewider Mediterranean. After conducting ethnographic andarchival research in Southwestern Sicily and Coastal Tunisiafor nineteen months, Ben-Yehoyada is now writing hisdissertation, tentatively titled: "Mediterranean, Becomingand Unbecoming: Fishing, Smuggling, and Cultural Politicsbetween Sicily and Tunisia, 1950-2008."