based on the thesaurus entry which word would best replace the underlined word without changing the overall meaning of this sentence?

the right answer for the question that is being asked and shown above is that: "their policy of "divide and rule" pitted political groups against each other to keep any one group from becoming too powerful.  " the  participant in european imperialism is being described below is that  their policy of "divide and rule" pitted political groups against each other to keep any one group from becoming too powerful. 

the correct answer is a