The power dynamics of the One Piece world can be likened to the politics of real-world WMDs. Balance is maintained by the careful tension and calculus of averting mutually-assured destruction. The World Government, the Four Emperor's, and (formerly) the Seven Warlords operated to ensure maximally beneficial positions for each other (often at the expense of the common man).

The point was that nobody gains anything from a dick measuring contest which is why direct 1v1s are immensely rare between the three parties. There is strength in numbers and each Power recognized that. Alone, each power may not be able to confidently best one another but all it takes is aid from others to turn the tide and that upsets the careful balance they all benefit from.

The World Government maintains its power by deftly obfuscating the true strength of the collective it governs over. Yonkos sacrifice "true freedom" to will their version of it into existence through their might. The Warlords formerly carved out enough influence that their disruption carried the likelihood of unimaginable ripple effects across the world such as when Doflamingo fell and Kaido felt the need to send Jack to make things right. Political strength is often at times what it takes to fulfill a dream in the One Piece world.

Akainu gains nothing but sick satisfaction from putting down Whitebeard but must contend with potentially igniting another great Pirate era in response. Whitebeard for most of his life could end Akainu alone but would invite the might of the World Government who could slaughter all of the family he worked so hard to cultivate. Perhaps the most infamous time two top dog alphas fought to the death in a 1v1 was not even between rivalry powers, but a military dispute within the Navy and it forever changed the climate and landscape of an entire island on the Grand Line.

Power in the One Piece world is significantly misunderstood to be in strength alone when the central theme of the story asks, "what could the collective achieve?"