Final answer:
Policymakers from the Reagan era onward approached opportunities with eagerness, driven by conservative economic policies and anti-Communist efforts, despite criticisms of callousness.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the Reagan era on, policymakers seized upon those opportunities with eagerness. This term best captures the zeal with which Ronald Reagan and subsequent conservatives approached their policy initiatives, particularly in regards to economic reform and the containment of Communism. The discussion in the reference material highlights a defense against the notion of conservative callousness and a striving towards 'compassionate conservatism.' While some believe Reagan failed to uphold the socially conservative values in legislative and world affairs, his administration's actions, especially in foreign policy, often reflected an eager stance towards economic policies and combating Communism, even if sometimes at the expense of sensitivity to racial matters or the conditions in developing nations.