A great and amusing diplo hist prof! Does great impersonations of famous politicians in class, and is enthusiastic about all subject material. MUST keep up w/ readings in this class, as he teaches mostly from examples in the docs. I highly recommend him!

One of the best professors I have had at GW

The best!

Although the lectures are very similar day-to-day, there is a continuity to them that really helps to puts things into a broader scope. Brazinsky himself is a riot (JFK impression), and obviously loves what he does. Korea buff!

This class is the reason GW is a good school. By far, the best professor I've had. It is difficult, so make sure you are prepared to work hard.

Brazinsky is a great history professor, lectures are excellent and tests are fair. You need to keep up with the reading otherwise you are dead. Cares about his students and does great impersonations of political leaders.

HIST 182 is basically 20th century American hstory from a dip. perspective. If you know US history, it's very easy. Brazinsky, though, makes it a lot of fun. Great, engaging lectures, midterm and final are mildly challenging. 30%- Midterm, 40%-Easy paper, 40%-Final.

It is 20th century US history from the viewpoint of major American policymakers. Midterm and final were easy and it is not necessary to read the materials since lectures provide enough information to excel on the exams.

Not a particularly exciting class, and if you have any background in American history you shouldn't expect to learn much. Very primary source-oriented.

Agree that Brazinsky is engaging and entertaining. I learned alot even though I had already taken much U.S. History. You can earn a good grade but need to work hard.

I'm not gonna lie - his lectures are so boring. He basically retells American history and maybe throws in some vocal impressions of presidents. The exams are fair but hard in that you have to basically memorize all of the readings word for word. Pretty easy class, just painful to go to.

The guy knows what he's doing and he is very smart. His lectures are boring but as long as you go to his lectures, you won't have to read the text at all. Very easy as long as you go to class. He also helps you out with the essay that you have to write. One of the best professors at GW.

This is one of the best courses at GW. It is very challenging but Brazinsky always keeps it engaging. His lecture on Bush was the most hillariously brilliant 75 minutes of my career at GW.

He extremely helpful!

Smoove B, an iced-out no-limit playa from the streets. Seriously though, he does a terrific impression of Kissinger, even though I got screwed on the paper. Midterm and final are cake, but his directions on the term paper are unfairly, intolerably vague. Good prof, generally. A little awkward, but very well-intentioned and a decent lecturer

such a great class...for any international affairs major interested in diplomacy (or really anyone) this is an amazing class. brazinsky is hillariously funny, does dead on impressions and seriously just rocks. one of my favorite classes ive taken here.

An incredibly interesting class, and a well run lecture. His attempts at questions are so easy, that no one wants to respond, so he should improve on that, but otherwise, we read a lot of great speeches and it is really inspiring. The way they are taught, brings the documents to life and one actually WANTS to do the reading.

I don't know what people are talking about when they say you don't learn anything new. Brazinsky has a distinctive approach to diplomatic history and if you attend lecture regularly you will learn alot. I recommend this course highly.

For starters, Brazinsky is a bit too pompous for his own good, but he makes for a somewhat interesting class. I think the primary readings he chose were, for the most part, very interesting but having to identify them by name on the exam seems a bit ridic. Essays were easy though. And he seemed to grade the papers fairly easy too.

It was the most interesting class I ever took at GW. The class is not hard and he really knows what he's talking about.

Brazinsky is a cool guy...Very weird, but in a cool way...The TAs suck though...People ****ed that the class needed TAs and now I could safely say that the class would be much better without them. They add nothing to the experience.

He is soo sweet and totally a dork about the subject and does his best to make lectures interesting like by doing awesome impressions of the presidents and cracking jokes about himself. He's such a nice guy, and you do learn a good amount, but the discussion section/TA thing sucks. As long as you read the stuff posted on blackboard you'll be fine.

Prof. Brazinsky is funny and his 182 class is pretty easy. if you're in the elliott school and have to take it i would recommend him. his cold war seminar (101) is also good. he'd be good to use as a reference.

"best history teacher ever" i love this man. hes so cool in his own quriky way. lectures are clear and organized. great orator so makes the material and lectures more interesting and entertaining. exams are straightforward. just read and go to lecture and you'll do fine.

Brazinsky needs to figure out how to talk into the microphone without making loud pops every five seconds. He's sometimes funny but it usually only lasts a few seconds. No matter what the class is supposed to be on, it always comes back to Asia.

Awesome guy. Pretty much just straight lectures but he's a great lecturer so they're actually interesting, and he finds ways to make them fun. I would highly recommend him. He's kind of nerdy but in the awesome, funny way. If there is such a thing. Unfortunately the 1x a week sessions are awful, but that's not his fault.

I loved it! The ONLY professor to ever teach history in a great way. Before taking this class I didn't like history but later came to appreciate it, I AM thrilled I took it. He is ONE GodDang energeitc man that jumps around the class to teach in a weird way but at the same time is very informative!

This is a great clas-lectures are interesting and extremely well-structured. MY TA was horrible but Brazinsky himself is wonderful. He also does funny voice impressions of past Presidents.

best class i ever had at GW!

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Amazing lecturer! Very organized, very clear, and makes you feel like the information from the class was worthwhile. Doing the readings isn't necessary - he talks abou them in class,so just take good notes and you'll be fine. TAs grade all papers, and they are really tough graders, & discussion is mandatory. Minimal work for a WID-no tests anymore.

While this professor has an amusing lecture style, the material he presents is basic and covered by most AP U.S. History classes. His attitude in class appears to be relaxed, but he seems to suffer from an inferiority complex hidden under a grandiose sense of his own importance. Some TAs are nice, but the professor makes them all grade too hard.

When I had Brazinsky 5 years ago I thought he was pompous and resented his harsh grading style. In my subsequent career in government, however, I have thought about what Brazinsky taught me every day -- like it or not. Love or hate him there's no class at GW more relevant to understanding the world we live in.

Brazinsky does have an attitude in class,but just be polite and it wont matter.Attendance is necessary for doing well on papers.Not very work intensive,but do well on whatever work you have.TA Rick Moss was fantastic

Brazinky is a great lecturer-engaging and concise. Funny guy too. Reasonable grader who gives credit where it is due. Textbook not needed. Going to lecture, however, is necessary because he teaches with primary source documents.

Fulbright scholar! Eloquent Speaker. Clear + hilarious + friendly. Glides thru lectures & really captivates students. I actually, for the first time in college, looked forward to lecture b/c you really walk out the classroom feeling like you learned something APPLICABLE w/ a piercing intelligence. Reasonable grader but watchout: attendance can kill

A charismatic and devoted history professor. I thought about his lectures a lot during the presidential debates.

One of the best at GW. He really cares about what he is teaching and always presents it in a clear and entertaining manner with decent presidential impersonations thrown in to boot.

A decent professor. Some of his lectures are better than others. The course starts out a little slow but becomes more entertaining over the course of the semester. Not bad for a required class.

Lectures are crystal clear and straightforward. But Brazinsky also can have an intimidating temper sometimes. Be careful not to get on his bad side during lecture.

Work is pretty minimal for a WID class- only three papers and all are peer and teacher reviewed. Lectures are interesting if you are interested in the subject material. Prof. Brazinsky knows his stuff and can be entertaining at times- but watch out for his temper! Do NOT talk in class!

This is a pretty good way to satisfy WID and Elliott School requirements. The professor cares about what he is teaching and is a genuinely nice guy if you go to office hours. He tries to make lecture entertaining.

While he's very picky about what the students can and can't do during class (some of them make me want to slip him a valium, his temper isn't that much a concern unless you draw attention to yourself. He also has an irritating habit of speaking around a point rather than outright saying it and rephrasing the same point several consecutive times.

Brazinsky is smart, nice to students who approach him and sometimes funny. Raise your hand and answer his questions in lecture and you will get a nice surprise bonus on your final grade!

He's been one of my favorite professors at GW. He is passionate about the subject matter and very approachable and has a good sense of humor. It is definitely worth it to take this class with him if need to fill the WID requirement.

Easy for a WID. B is a fun prof, though lectures can get somewhat boring after a while, and class can seem rather unnecessary. Paper grading is somewhat random, but most people did well in the end. Readings are pretty good, and the points b makes are always interesting and thought provoking. GREAT CLASS FOR WID REQUIREMENT FOR ESIA!!

Professor Brazinsky has a unique, interactive lecture style. Paper topics are a little broad sometimes but force you to think. I learned a lot from taking his course overall.

He is a great lecturer. He's a little weird about class disruptions, though. Likes people who speak up and opposes his viewpoints. Don't bother reading the textbook, just the documents. Paper topics aren't too hard, as long as you read all the documents and are able to use them well.

Brazinsky is an engaging lecturer and somewhat of a showman. The paper topics are very open-ended and you have to choose your arguments carefully. The class provides an interesting perspective on U.S. foreign policy if you go to lecture.

Easy for a WID, but so unbelievably boring. I stopped going after the first paper, when I discovered that lecture was largely irrelevant to the papers (in the sense, that one can not go, and still make As on the papers, which actually matter to your grade). He's also pompous and arrogant. His voice gets irritating after a while.

I enjoyed History 182W. Very good professor and TAs when I took it. It is a huge class but still one of the best ways to fulfill the Elliott School's requirements for a WID and U.S. foreign policy course.

Professor Brazinsky is by far one of the best History Professors at GW. He engages a class of over 100 students by allowing students to comment in lecture. His quizzes can be tough, but in the end I don't think they matter too much if you did well on the papers like I did. Dan Berkhout is a great TA too. Make sure to do the readings.

Prof B. is an entertaining speaker, but hosts a missable lecture. Easy class, but the occasionally will botch an essay grade. My tip:Read the articles, go to discussion, don't bother with class (until the last week, that is!)

Good to great for most lectures. Not a bad class.

Decent lectures, sometimes amusing with impersonations of different presidents, not too much writing for a WID, grade is mostly decided by the GTA. But on the whole, not a bad class.

It's a large lecture class and a somewhat awkward format for a WID. Brazinsky and his GTA's generally do their best to make it work, however. It's not a bad way to fill a requirement.

At the beginning of the new semester, let me warn you that Brazinsky has implemented a new pop quiz system to catch and penalize those who don't attend lecture. So don't count on taking this course and skipping lecture unless you want a low grade.

Brazinsky is an interesting professor. He has a clear direction during lecture, and does ridiculous impressions of US presidents. His system of pop quizzes is really annoying, though, and punishes students a lot if you happen to miss lecture every now and then. Make sure you get a good TA, too, because they grade your papers.

I agree with the comment below. It's an interesting class but you need to be careful. I really got hurt on my final grade for missing quizzes and spores.

Brazinsky is awesome! There are assigned readings before each lecture, but in lecture he often expands and explains each one. There are quizzes in about half of the discussions but they are passfail style. Both papers have the option to turn in early for feedback before your final grade. Highly recommend this class- especially if you love history!

If you are in ESIA and need a WID take this class. It double counts and is stupidly easy. If you have knowledge regarding the Cold War and Cold War presidential policy you will get an A. Reading wasn't necessary at all as long as you went to class. Discussion was easy as were all of the assignments. Hilarious impersonations of presidents too.

(WID Class Cold War and 3rd World) Incredibly interesting subject matter, very knowledgeable on topics, but readings verge on sadistic-- 200+ pages the norm. Clear expectations for all assignments and for class. I would highly recommend this class if you have interest in the Cold War, but if not, I would caution against it.

Can't understand his Quotes part of the examination. It's ridiculous to remember so much unnecessary details

Fantastic. Lectures were literally crystal clear. Take extremely good notes and pay attention in lecture and the exams and papers will be easy and you will barely have to study to get an A. I learnt so much and lectures were always interesting - granted, I do love US history. Also highly recommend Mark Alexander as a TA.

Great professor, will teach you a lot about US foreign policy over the years. I loved his class and would recommend to anybody pursuing a career in diplomacy.

Brazinsky is an interesting guy and he knows a lot. He's kind of strange, but that what makes lecture not totally boring. He knows who comes to lecture and who talks during it--beware because he will take points of your grade apparently. Become his friend, it will be worth it! Tests aren't too hard, but the quotes are a weird twist.

Love Brazinsky. You have to go into class knowing he's a little quirky and take him with a grain of salt, but if you do he's hilarious. He cares a lot and hid lectures are really helpful. Discussions are also actually helpful for once. Assignments aren't bad and he grades pretty easily.

Great guy, amazing stage presence and highly engaging professor. Skipping class is not viable since he goes over all crucial segments in assigned reading (which you don't have to really read). Writing assignments are graded fairly easily and the exams should not be a problem as long as you attended the lectures and allocated some time to study.

I learned a ton in this class about former presidents' foreign policies and getting an A- was doable. Go to discussion and participate. The 2 blogs are super easy. If you spend time on your policy memo and final paper and go to your TA, you can do well. Tests (quotes and an essay) are pretty easy as long as you study hard before. Record the quotes.

Brazinsky's impressions are on point. The mystery quote identification thing was a little odd, but they give hella partial credit, so no worries. Go to office hours so he remembers your name. TA's were overall great - go to discussion so they know you and make sure to participate. The material wasn't very hard and hardly any writing assignments.

Brazinsky is one of the best professors in the GWU History Department. He does a great job at engaging students in class and makes good impersonations of U.S. presidents.

I loved this class and I learned so much. The tests, however, were a very poor way to measure a student's understanding of the material taught in class. Brazinksy has instructed TAs not to give students higher than a 90% on most assignments so it is difficult to get an A+ on writing assignments and this is not fair. Loved his lectures!

Really great WID class. Final grade not heavy on exams, relatively few papers, only mandatory attendance is during discussion. If you show up, you won't need the textbook, but the textbook is actually free and on Gelman's e-resources. All in all a great experience.

He really cares for his students and is very reasonable. His way of testing is weird, but it is generally okay. TAs grade everything, but he notices the efforts students put in classes and according to him "will give a boost in grades for students who participated".

Lectures were one of the best parts of this class for a change. If you're interested in diplomacy/international affairs then this is a perfect class

The lectures were super engaging and interesting. I actually looked forward to going to class! For a WID, not much writing. Only two papers for the whole semester, both under 10 pages and two 25 question multiple choice exams. Very fair class, great TAs, and great prof!

Interesting guy, class is super lecture based but they're relatively interesting. He knows what he is talking about and offered some extra credit. Attendance and participation required for the discussion section. TA will make or break your grade, fairly certain they are instructed not to give out very many As though.

Professor Brazinsky knows his stuff, especially on Asia and the Korean War. Super funny guy, likes to interject some humor into his lectures, even though they were virtual. A policy memo and an 8 page paper, not bad for a WID. Participation is A MUST in discussion section -- it's 20% of your overall grade! Highly recommend, and he has a cool dog!

The best history class I've taken - I signed up for US Diplo expecting some low-key US propaganda, but instead I found a well-balanced, honest view of our history that has genuinely helped me better understand the position of the world today. He also does voice impressions of every single US president.

i really really enjoyed this professor. he made a dull topic fun and he made sure to teach us diplo history from a critical point of view and focused on the entire world. very well rounded and enjoyable and very little work. get your policy memo done early and you will coast through the semester

lectures are boring, but easy if you watch his slideshow. he tends to insert his opinion frequently and not give an impartial view of topics. TA's are a hit or miss but if you do the readings, go to discussion, and ask questions, theres no reason you cant pull off at least a B+. midterm and final all multiple choice. 1 policy memo and 1 term paper.

Great professor, his lectures are engaging, and he is very passionate about what he is teaching. attendance for discussion class is strictly mandatory. WID class but not that much writing tbh... a 6-pages short essay and another 10-pages essay.

Loved taking his class. I was not super familiar with the topics, but he was very patient with me and helped to fill in some blanks for context, especially since I am not well-versed in East Asian history. Passionate about what he does, which affects the students, and Brazinsky is a fair grader and provides good feedback to his students.