A study looks at the economic, social, cultural, and political factors at work in conflicts between Quebec language communities in recent years. The historical and current demographic, economic, cultural, and political relationships between the French and English speaking communities are presented and discussed in terms of political issues and influences. The forms and levels of influence of language community leaders in the legal and public policy arena are also examined. Extensive demographic data and data on language use in the media are appended. Two statistically oriented appendixes analyze the connection between linguistics characteristics and incomes of Quebec residents and degree of access to the mass media of the various linguistic groups. (MSE)