The topological fundamental group of a smooth complex algebraic variety is poorly understood. One way to approach it is to consider its complex linear representations modulo conjugation, that is, its complex local systems. A fundamental problem is then to single out the complex points of such moduli spaces which correspond to geometric systems, and more generally to identify geometric subloci of the moduli space of local systems with special arithmetic properties. Deep conjectures have been made in relation to these problems. This book studies some consequences of these conjectures, notably...