Digital figurations in the online trade of illicit drugs: A qualitative content analysis of darknet forums

This article analyses the factors of trust, logistics, and conflict on darknet markets (DNMs) and forums that are dedicated to selling illicit drugs. The analysis is conducted by utilising Elias (1978) theoretical concept of ‘figuration,’ which refers to the communicative constellations that eventuate between actors. A qualitative content analysis was applied to a sample collected from darknet forums related to darknet markets, independent...