I don’t know about derogatory. Language evolves and changes, and at some point the term ‘third world’ entered common usage as being equivalent to ‘developing nations’. I remember being in primary school 30 years ago and the term was used that way, and definitely not in a derogatory sense.
There’s an inherent negative connotation with third world, and that’s why usage is transitioning to developing. If it didn’t have a negative connotation, a softer term wouldn’t be necessary.
I don’t know about derogatory. Language evolves and changes, and at some point the term ‘third world’ entered common usage as being equivalent to ‘developing nations’. I remember being in primary school 30 years ago and the term was used that way, and definitely not in a derogatory sense.
There’s an inherent negative connotation with third world, and that’s why usage is transitioning to developing. If it didn’t have a negative connotation, a softer term wouldn’t be necessary.