Final answer:
By the end of the nineteenth century, Japan had adopted a primarily political response to European colonization, becoming a colonial power itself after modernizing its society and military through the Meiji Restoration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Response to European Colonization by the End of the Nineteenth Century
By the end of the nineteenth century, the country that had adopted a primarily political response to European colonization was Japan. As industrialized nations such as Britain, France, and the United States acquired colonies around the world, Japan focused on building its own empire in Korea and defeating Russia in conflict. While other European powers were engaged in the Scramble for Africa, Japan's approach was marked by modernization and rapid industrial development, allowing it to assert itself against European influence and becoming a colonial power in its own right.
Unlike China, which saw spheres of European influence within its borders, or India, which was under British colonial rule, Japan managed to resist direct colonization through a series of reforms known as the Meiji Restoration, which transformed its society and military, thereby enabling a political response that included territorial expansion in Asia.