Abstract
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, 15 newly independent states sought to establish national policy systems distinct from their shared past. Yet, many features of governance in these post-Soviet contexts continue to mirror the bureaucratic traditions of the former regime. This paper examines the governance of research ethics as a lens to understand the persistence and transformation of bureaucratic culture in three Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. While these states have articulated ambitions to modernise and internationalise their research sectors, the study finds that deeply embedded bureaucratic norms continue to shape institutional practices, constraining genuine reform and innovation. The analysis highlights how Soviet-era administrative legacies endure within contemporary research governance, limiting the development of autonomous and ethically robust research environments.