'while economic strength determined the scope' The word 'determined' means

'Determined' here means to fix, settle, or establish the extent/nature of something. Economic strength 'determined' (= established/fixed) the scope and quality of political freedom. 'Established' best captures this meaning. 'Decried' means criticized publicly (opposite sense); 'preferred' means chose; 'rejected' means refused — none of these fit the context.