  I assess the similarities and differences between the star-formation modes in
quiescent spiral galaxies versus those in violent starburst regions, including
galactic nuclei. As opposed to the quiescent star-formation mode, current
empirical evidence on the star-formation processes in the extreme,
high-pressure environments induced by galaxy encounters strongly suggests that
star cluster formation is an important and perhaps even the dominant mode of
star formation in such starburst events. This implies that by using star
clusters as unique diagnostic probes, we can trace a galaxy's most violent star
formation history very well, at least for the past few Gyr. The sizes,
luminosities, and mass estimates of the young massive star clusters are
entirely consistent with what is expected for young Milky Way-type globular
clusters (GCs). Recent evidence lends support to the scenario that GCs, which
were once thought to be the oldest building blocks of galaxies, are still
forming today.
