Impression Management in the Bottom to Middle levels of UK drug Markets. A Case Study of Kent's Coastal Towns

This thesis explores 'alternative' drug markets in Kent's coastal towns. It starts from the observation that archetypal notions of drug dealer identity (greedy, corrupt, violent) and drug market structure (hierarchical, organised) remain prevalent. Despite rich seams of qualitative research presenting drug dealers as diverse and drug markets as fluid and fragmented, the enduring nature of archetypes is demonstrated, for example, within recent narratives about exploitative, organised and profitable 'County Lines' drug markets. Its first aim is thus to identify alternative drug markets and explore how drug dealers operate within them, and in what ways their behaviour contrasts with archetypes. Secondly, it aims to apply Goffman's (1959) theory about presentation of self in everyday life to enrich our understanding of how 'alternative' drug dealers self-conceptualise their behaviour and how they manage their roles within fragmented drug markets. Finally, it aims to explore whether these findings can be applied to add nuance or detail to our existing understanding of how drug markets are structured.