The term “third world” puts my teeth on edge. And I’ve heard it in the news a lot recently. Can we stop using it?

I know that it’s a translation from the French, supposedly to designate “one third of the world” — even though it’s really more like two-thirds. Sure, “developing world” has it’s own set of biases (as does “underdeveloped”), but it seems more active, more hopeful. I suspect you have to be very in touch with the history of the French Revolution to see “third world” as aspirational rather than static.