Between bussiness and "friendship": an analysis of management practices and the moral dimensions of drug dealing in rural contexts

Keywords: Drug trafficking, rural areas, closed markets, social supply, moral economy

Abstract

In our country, drug trafficking is highly prevalent. Its analysis has predominantly focused on disadvantages urban neighborhoods; however, in recent years it has begun to expand into rural areas. This study is based on a qualitative analysis of interviews with sellers (N=16) who distribute cocaine and marijuana in two municipalities in the province of Ávila. The objective is to trace their trajectories and analyze the management of their commercial networks, exploring the moral logics that sustain them. The results contribute to advancing knowledge about how these networks operate in closed markets, showing that sales practices are shaped by various ethical commitments and are crucially influenced by community norms. 

Author Biography

Héctor Gil Rodríguez, Profesor Ayudante de Trabajo Social en la Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB)

Mi labor investigadora se desarrolla principalmente en el campo de la sociología rural, el trabajo social comunitario y los debates contemporáneos en torno a la desigualdad y la exclusión social. Actualmente, formo parte del grupo de investigación "Desigualdades, género y Políticas Públicas", de la Universidad de las Islas Baleares. En 2017, empecé a realizar mi tesis doctoral sobre la descomposición y el debilitamiento de los lazos sociales comunitarios en el medio rural abulense. 

View Citations

Crossmark

Metrics

Published
2026-05-07
How to Cite
Gil Rodríguez, H. (2026). Between bussiness and "friendship": an analysis of management practices and the moral dimensions of drug dealing in rural contexts. Revista de Antropología Social, 35(1), 29-43. https://doi.org/10.5209/raso.99650
Section
Articles